Variations of the popliteal artery in human fetuses: preliminary study

Abstract

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the anatomical and morphometrical attributes of the popliteal artery (PA) in human fetuses. Additionally, it showcases significant interindividual variation in branching patterns, which are of great clinical importance in the context of vascular surgery and interventional radiology.The purpose of this research was to systematically examine and categorize the anatomical and morphometrical diversities observed in the PA among a 166 sample of human fetuses at various gestational stages, spanning from 16 to 30 weeks of pregnancy.The latex was injected into the 166 PA within the fetal specimens to visually analyze their anatomical features, and high-resolution digital images were captured at 24-bit color depth for detailed analysis.The PAs were systematically classified into three distinct categories, further subcategorized into specific types. The classification system employed was based on the framework established initially by Lippert and Pabst, with modifications by Kim. The results of the analysis revealed the following distribution: Category I – it was mainly detected in the majority of specimens, comprising 144 cases (86.7%) of the sample population, and represented the most common anatomical configuration; Category II – it was found in 19 specimens (11.4%) of the total sample population (this category represented a less common anatomical variation within the PA); Category III – the rarest anatomical configuration observed in only 3 specimens (1.8%) from the sample population.The frequent occurrence of short tibiofibular trunks in PA may be due to incidental lesions or postnatal developmental changes, highlighting the need for further research.