Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population

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dc.contributor.advisorGunston, Geneyen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorAlexander, Rachelen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDa Silva, Ripen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-28T18:16:13Z
dc.date.available2014-07-28T18:16:13Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes abstract.
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.
dc.description.abstractThe documentation of variations in branching patterns of the aorta among South African populations is limited. Histological changes in the aortic wall have been documented and may be due to pathology and physiological processes. Whether these changes are solely due to physiological processes such as haemodynamics or pathology is yet to be determined. The present study aims to document the branching patterns of the aorta in a South African population and to distinguishing which particular histological changes in this vessel wall can be associated with haemodynamic forces rather than pathology. Seventy one cadavers from the University of Cape Town MBChB programme were used to document the branching pattern of the aorta. Twenty five random complete aortae with no evidence of macroscopic pathology were collected from Salt River Mortuary and used for histological examination. Seven sections (taken from branching and non-branching sites along the aorta) from each sample were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue pH2.5 - periodic Schiff reaction and elastin von Gieson’s for histological analysis using a Zeiss Axioskop Mot upright microscope and Axiovision 4.7 software. Variation in the branching pattern of vessels along the length of the aorta was found in 49% of the cadaver sample. A variety of histological variations of the wall of the aorta in the mortuary sample was noted. Noteworthy variations include the abundance of acid mucopolysaccharide, the increased thickness of the tunica intima, and increased elastin fragmentation of the tunica media at branching sites of the aorta. A pronounced curved ridge-like structure was indentation on the luminal surface at the junction of the arch and descending aorta in 74% of the mortuary sample. The presence of this aortic ridge was association with younger aged individuals (Chi-square 4.57, p=0.56). A high frequency of gross variation in branching patterns of the aorta is present in this cadaver sample, including some rare patterns of variation. Clinically, knowledge of these variations would be relevant and useful to anatomists, radiologists and head, neck, thoracic and vascular surgeons. An explanation for the abundance of acid mucopolysaccharides may be the link between acid mucopolysaccharides and diet, however this needs further investigation. Altered haemodynamic forces created by turbulent flow at branching sites is proposed as the explanation for the increase in the thickness of the tunica intima and increased elastin fragmentation at the branching sites of the aorta, although other factors such as the effects of HIV in the vessel wall of this sample are yet to be determined. This study proposes that the aortic ridge is a result of the closure of the ductus arteriosus.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDa Silva, R. (2013). <i>Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Human Biology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3230en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDa Silva, Rip. <i>"Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Human Biology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3230en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDa Silva, R. 2013. Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Da Silva, Rip AB - The documentation of variations in branching patterns of the aorta among South African populations is limited. Histological changes in the aortic wall have been documented and may be due to pathology and physiological processes. Whether these changes are solely due to physiological processes such as haemodynamics or pathology is yet to be determined. The present study aims to document the branching patterns of the aorta in a South African population and to distinguishing which particular histological changes in this vessel wall can be associated with haemodynamic forces rather than pathology. Seventy one cadavers from the University of Cape Town MBChB programme were used to document the branching pattern of the aorta. Twenty five random complete aortae with no evidence of macroscopic pathology were collected from Salt River Mortuary and used for histological examination. Seven sections (taken from branching and non-branching sites along the aorta) from each sample were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue pH2.5 - periodic Schiff reaction and elastin von Gieson’s for histological analysis using a Zeiss Axioskop Mot upright microscope and Axiovision 4.7 software. Variation in the branching pattern of vessels along the length of the aorta was found in 49% of the cadaver sample. A variety of histological variations of the wall of the aorta in the mortuary sample was noted. Noteworthy variations include the abundance of acid mucopolysaccharide, the increased thickness of the tunica intima, and increased elastin fragmentation of the tunica media at branching sites of the aorta. A pronounced curved ridge-like structure was indentation on the luminal surface at the junction of the arch and descending aorta in 74% of the mortuary sample. The presence of this aortic ridge was association with younger aged individuals (Chi-square 4.57, p=0.56). A high frequency of gross variation in branching patterns of the aorta is present in this cadaver sample, including some rare patterns of variation. Clinically, knowledge of these variations would be relevant and useful to anatomists, radiologists and head, neck, thoracic and vascular surgeons. An explanation for the abundance of acid mucopolysaccharides may be the link between acid mucopolysaccharides and diet, however this needs further investigation. Altered haemodynamic forces created by turbulent flow at branching sites is proposed as the explanation for the increase in the thickness of the tunica intima and increased elastin fragmentation at the branching sites of the aorta, although other factors such as the effects of HIV in the vessel wall of this sample are yet to be determined. This study proposes that the aortic ridge is a result of the closure of the ductus arteriosus. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population TI - Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3230 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/3230
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDa Silva R. Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Human Biology, 2013 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3230en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Human Biologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherMedicineen_ZA
dc.titleAnatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African populationen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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