Anatomic variability of branches of iliac and femoral arteries in human fetuses

Abstract

Introduction. The anatomy of the gluteal and anteri- or femoral regions is characterized by considerable age and individual variability of the muscles and neurovascular formations, which is a rather common cause of complications during surgical interventions. Objective. The study aimed at determining the age and individual anatomical variability of the parietal branches of the internal iliac artery and the branches of the external iliac and femoral arteries during the fetal period of human ontogenesis. Materials and methods. The study included 80 specimens of fetuses, aged 4-10 months, of 81.0-375.0 mm of crown-rump length (CRL), without external signs of anatomical impairments or developmental malformations. Results. The branches of the iliolumbar artery anastomosis with the deep circumflex iliac artery and obturator artery; the lateral sacral arteries anastomosis with the branches of the median sacral artery. The branches of the right and left superior gluteal arteries (SGA) anastomosis at different frequencies with the internal pudendal artery, the inferior gluteal artery (IGA), the deep circumflex iliac artery, the lateral femoral circumflex artery (LFCA), the fourth lumbar artery and the obturator artery. The inferior epigastric artery anastomoses with the inferior posterior intercostal arteries, the lumbar arteries, and the superior epigastric artery. The latter also anastomoses with the branches of the superficial epigastric artery. The branches of the right and left medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) with different frequency form anastomoses with the obturator artery, IGA and SGA, the internal pudendal artery, LFCA and the first perforating artery. Also. the variants of the topography of the accompanying artery of the sciatic nerve in human fetuses were indicated. Conclusions. 4-10-month-old fetuses are characterized by the age and individual anatomical variability of the arteries of the pelvic and femoral walls.