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

Includes abstract.

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Main Author: Da Silva, Rip
Other Authors: Gunston, Geney
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Human Biology 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Da Silva, Rip
author2 Gunston, Geney
author_browse Da Silva, Rip
Gunston, Geney
author_facet Gunston, Geney
Da Silva, Rip
author_sort Da Silva, Rip
collection Thesis
description Includes abstract.
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3230
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:18.037Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Department of Human Biology
publisherStr Department of Human Biology
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3230 Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population Da Silva, Rip Gunston, Geney Alexander, Rachel Medicine Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references. 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. 2014-07-28T18:16:13Z 2014-07-28T18:16:13Z 2013 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3230 eng application/pdf Department of Human Biology Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Medicine
Da Silva, Rip
Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population
title_full Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population
title_fullStr Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population
title_full_unstemmed Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population
title_short Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population
title_sort anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a south african population
topic Medicine
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3230
work_keys_str_mv AT dasilvarip anatomicalstudyofthevariationinthebranchingpatternsandhistologyoftheaortainasouthafricanpopulation