Variant anatomy of the testicular artery among black Kenyans
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Date
2019-01-14Author
Mpekethu, Nelson
Gichangi, Peter
Olabu, Beda
Odula, Paul
Munguti, Jeremiah
Misiani, Musa
Ogeng’o, Julius A.
Type
ArticleLanguage
en_USMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Variant anatomy of the testicular artery is important for safe surgery in the retroperioneal area, and
accurate diagnosis of testicular and renal disease. The pattern of origin, number, course and branching
display ethnic and geographical variations. Data from black African populations and especially Eastern
Africa is scarce. The objective of this study was, therefore, to describe the topography of the intraabdominal
part of testicular artery in a sample of the Kenyan population. This was a descriptive crosssectional
study on one hundred (100) testicular arteries at the Department of Human Anatomy, University
of Nairobi. The samples were obtained from autopsy cases and cadaveric specimens. Standard midline
abdominal incisions were made, flaps of the anterior abdominal wall reflected and the intestines,
mesentery and pariental peritoneum retracted systematically to expose the testicular arteries. Their site
and level of origin, number, course and branching were examined. Macrographs of representative
variations were taken using a high resolution digital camera. The results were analysed using SPSS
version 21, and are presented using macrographs and frequency tables. Thirty three (33%) of the arteries
displayed a variant anatomy, with regard to their site of origin (8%), number (4%), course (14%) and
branching pattern (7%). Among the 14 cases of aberrant course, five (5%) arched over the left renal
vein, eight (8%) were retrocaval and one (1%) had a retroureteric course. Seven (7%) bifurcated within
the abdomen. The level of origin along the aorta varied from 1 centimetre above the renal arteries to 5.5
centimetres below them while the vertebral level of origin ranged from T12 to L4. This shows that the
testicular artery among Kenyans displays a high prevalence of variant anatomy characterized by origin
from the accessory renal artery, high level of aortic origin, duplication, retrocaval course and
intraabdominal; division. Preopertaive evaluation of renal and gonadal vasculature is recommended to
minimize misdiagnosis and inadvertent injury retroperitoneal surgery.
URI
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/aja/article/view/182601http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/108863
Citation
Mpekethu, N., Gichangi, P., Olabu, B., Odula, P., Munguti, J., Misiani, M., & Ogeng’o, J. A. (2019). Variant anatomy of the testicular artery among black Kenyans. Anatomy Journal of Africa, 8(1), 1358-1367.Publisher
Anatomy Journal of Africa.
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10385]