Morphometric Analysis of Brachiocephalic Trunk in Brazilian Cadavers of Human Foetuses

Abstract

Introduction: The Brachiocephalic Trunk (BCT) is the largest branch of the aortic arch, with an average of 4-5 centimetres length. It usually divides into two vessels, the Right Common Carotid Artery (RCCA) and the Right Subclavian Artery (RSA). Aim: To conduct a morphometric study of BCT in cadavers of human foetuses and associate it with gender. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted from year 2012 to 2020, in which 35 foetal cadavers (18 male and 17 female) were dissected and fixed in 10% formalin, all belonging to the Human Anatomy Laboratory of the Morphology Department of the Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil. After dissection and exposure of the aortic arch and its branches, measurements were made of the BCT length (from the edge of the aortic arch to its division into the right common carotid and subclavian arteries) and outside diameter (at the origin of the aortic arch) using a 0.05 mm precision digital calliper. The t-Student test was used for independent or unpaired samples to compare the BCT morphometric values in relation to gender, taking p<0.05 as statistically significant. Data were analysed using the Bioestat 5.3. Results: The length of the BCT varied from 6.19-15.34 mm, with an average of 10.22 mm, and its diameter from 1.51-5.11 mm, with an average of 3.16 mm. The comparative analysis between morphometric measurements and gender did not show any statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusion: The knowledge of the BCT morphometry in foetuses can assist in the safe execution of various surgical procedures in the mediastinum, as it reduces the chances of serious complications resulting from these procedures.