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Year :2025
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Month :
November-December
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Volume :
14
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Issue :
6
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Page :
AO01 - AO05
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Comparative Microscopic Analysis of the Suboccipital and Intracranial Segments of the Vertebral Artery: Structural Variations and Clinical Implications in Indian Cadavers
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Correspondence Address :
Jitendra Devilal Rawal, Nishita Kashyap Jethva, Maulik Dilipkumar Patel, Dhaval Vishnubhai Patel,
Dr. Jitendra Devilal Rawal,
GMERS Medical College, Sola, S.G. Highway, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
E-mail: drjeeturw@gmail.com
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Introduction: Introduction: The vertebral arteries are essential for cerebral circulation, supplying critical brain regions including the occipital and temporal lobes, brainstem, and cerebellum. The structural characteristics of the vertebral artery, particularly the suboccipital (V3) and intracranial (V4) segments, influence cerebral blood flow.
Aim: To histomorphometrically analyse the suboccipital (V3) and intracranial (V4) segments of the vertebral artery in Indian cadavers and to understand their structural variations with clinical significance.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 vertebral arteries dissected from 34 embalmed cadavers aged 60-75 years, who had died of natural causes. The cadavers were obtained from different regional medical colleges of Gujarat after approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee during the years 2022 to 2024. Segments from V3 and V4 were collected for histomorphometric analysis. Standard histological procedures, including fixation, sectioning, staining with haematoxylin and eosin, and microscopic examination, were performed. The parameters measured included the inner diameter (D1), representing the luminal diameter from endothelial surface to endothelial surface; the perpendicular diameter (D2); the outer diameter (Do); tunica intima thickness (D3); tunica media thickness (D4); and the cross-sectional areas of the lumen (CSL), tunica intima (CSI), and tunica media (CSM). A paired t-test was used to compare the tunica media cross-sectional areas between the V3 and V4 segments using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 15.0.
Results: Significant differences were observed between the V3 and V4 segments. The tunica media thickness was greater in V3 (0.222 mm) than in V4 (0.131 mm) (p-value <0.001). The inner diameter (Di) was larger in V3 (2.901 mm) compared to V4 (2.494 mm), and the outer diameter (Do) was also greater in V3 (3.407 mm) than in V4 (2.800 mm). The CSL was larger in V3 (6.751 mm²) than in V4 (5.008 mm²), indicating a greater blood-carrying capacity. Histological examination confirmed the vertebral artery to be a muscular artery with a well-developed tunica media and a distinct internal elastic lamina.
Conclusion: This study provides crucial histomorphometric insights into the structure of the vertebral artery, revealing significant regional differences between the V3 and V4 segments. These findings have clinical implications in understanding vertebral artery stenosis, aneurysm formation, and blood flow regulation. Future studies with larger sample sizes and advanced imaging techniques could further elucidate the biomechanical properties and clinical relevance of vertebral artery morphology.
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