POPLITEAL ARTERY DIAMETER MEASUREMENT IN CADAVER
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Femoral artery continue as popliteal artery from the fifth osseo-aponeurotic opening of adductor magnus. It descends laterally from the opening in adductor magnus muscle to the femoral inter-condylar fossa, going obliquely to the distal border of popliteus muscle, then it divides into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries.A popliteal aneurysm i.e. abnormal dilation of the popliteal artery, usually causes edema and pain in the popliteal fossa. An aneurysm in the popliteal artery may stretch the tibial nerve or compress its blood supply.Knowledge of the diameter of normal popliteal artery is essential to determine the relevance of popliteal dilatations as popliteal artery is one of the most common sites for aneurysm formation.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 lower limbs of 50 cadavers embalmed with 10% formalin were included in the study. Out of 50 specimens 40 cadavers were males and 10 were female. All the cadavers were adult males and females ranging between the age group of 25-65 years.Popliteal artery was examined in each cadaver. . Inner circumference of popliteal artery at its origin and at its termination. At the level of adductor hiatus, intact piece of popliteal artery was removed, incised and cut opened.
RESULTS: Mean diameter of popliteal artery at its origin on the right side was 4.8 ± 0.6 mm, range 3.7 mm -5.4 mm and 4.8± 0.4 mm on the left side, the range being 3.4 mm -5.3 mm. popliteal arteries of men are slightly larger than that of female right (4.8 ± 0.6 mm), (4.6± 0.5 mm) and left popliteal artery (4.8± 0.4 mm), (4.6± 0.2 mm) respectively.Mean diameter of popliteal artery at its termination in males were 4.6 ± 0.2 mm and 4.0± 0.6 mm of right and left respectively. Mean diameter of popliteal artery at its termination in female were 4.2± 0.6 mm and 3.7± 0.3mm mm of right and left respectively
CONCLUSION: mean diameter in males was slightly larger than females. The variation of our study compare to other study may be due to the difference in live and cadaveric spacemen. The present study is useful for the vascular surgeons, radiologists. angiography, duplex ultrasound.
