Morphometric features of the heart and its major vessels in adults according to computed tomography data

Abstract

Establishing gender, age and constitutional features of the structure of the human heart and the vessels extending from it is necessary for an adequate assessment of the results of instrumental studies of the cardiovascular system, as well as for the development of prophylactic measures aimed at preventing heart diseases. The aim of the study was to establish the morphometric features of the heart and initial segments of the aorta and pulmonary trunk in people of different sex, age and body type. Material and methods. Retrospectively, using computed tomography, morphometric features of the heart, valves, and initial segments of the aorta and pulmonary trunk were studied in 80 patients (46 women and 34 men). Non-parametric methods of descriptive statistics were applied. To establish the significance of differences, the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were used. Correlational relationships between the features were calculated using the Spearman's rank correlation method. Results. The study found that the linear dimensions of the heart and the areas of the semilunar cusps of the aortic valve and pulmonary trunk in men are statistically significantly larger than in women. With age, the vertical size of the heart decreases, and the angle of inclination of the pulmonary trunk in the sagittal plane increases. The anteroposterior dimension of the heart, the length of the aortic ring, and the area of the posterior semilunar cusp increase in individuals from the early mature period to the elderly period. Hypersthenics have a significantly larger angle of inclination of the pulmonary trunk in the sagittal plane and anteroposterior and transverse dimensions of the heart compared to normo- and hyposthenics. Hyposthenics have a larger vertical dimension of the heart compared to normo- and hypersthenics. Conclusion. A database has been created containing information on the morphometric parameters of the heart, the area of the semilunar cusps of the aortic and pulmonary trunk valves, and the features of the topography of the aorta and pulmonary trunk in people of different sexes, ages, and body types.