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A further morphological study of the persistent median artery in neonatal cadavers

Une étude morphologique complémentaire sur l'artère médiane persistante sur des enfants morts-nés

  • Anatomic Variations
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Summary

Persistent median artery was studied in 60 upper limbs of 30 neonatal cadavers. It was found in 12 (20%) specimens while partial atrophy in the distal part of the median artery was detected in 9 (15%) specimens. These findings correlated well with those of other series including the authors' previous study which covered both adults and neonates. There was no significant difference statistically between the authors' current and previous studies (p>0,05). Therefore both studies were combined. The incidence of persistent median artery in this enlarged series (100 specimens) was 17%. This rate of persistent median artery was higher than those of most other published series. We believe this may be due to evolutionary and racial trends; the neonatal origin of our specimens would be another differing factor. Partial atrophy of the median artery, and the different incidences in neonates and adults raised the possibility that the median artery regresses at a later age, possibly during perinatal and early infancy period.

Résumé

La persistance de l'a. médiane a été recherchée sur 60 membres supérieurs provenant de 30 cadavres de nouveau-nés. Elle a été trouvée sur 12 pièces (20 % des cas) tandis qu'une atrophie localisée de la partie distale de l'a. médiane était détectée sur 9 pièces (15 %). Ces constatations ont une bonne corrélation avec celles d'autres séries, y compris l'étude antérieure des auteurs portant à la fois sur des adultes et des nouveau-nés. Il n'y avait pas de différence statistiquement significative entre l'étude rapportée ici et la précédente (p>0,05). C'est pourquoi les deux études ont été rassemblées. La fréquence de la persistance d'une a. médiane dans cette étude élargie (100 cas) a été de 17 %. Ce taux d'a. médiane persistante est plus élevé que celui de la plupart des autres séries publiées. Nous pensons qu'il peut être lié à des facteurs évolutifs et ethniques ; l'origine néonatale de nos observations a pu être un autre facteur différentiel. L'atrophie partielle de l'a. médiane et la différence de fréquence chez le nouveau-né par rapport à l'adulte proviennent de la possibilité qu'a l'a. médiane de régresser à un stade plus tardif, peut-être durant la période périnatale ou dans la première enfance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Ondokuzmayis University, Medical Faculty, Samsun, Turkey

    C. Kopuz

  2. Department of Pathology, Ondokuzmayis University, Medical Faculty, Samsun, Turkey

    S. Baris

  3. Department of Orthopaedics-Traumatology, Ondokuzmayis University, Medical Faculty, Samsun, Turkey

    B. Gulman

Authors
  1. C. Kopuz
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  2. S. Baris
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  3. B. Gulman
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Kopuz, C., Baris, S. & Gulman, B. A further morphological study of the persistent median artery in neonatal cadavers. Surg Radiol Anat 19, 403–406 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628509

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628509

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