Gross anatomical variations of lumbar vasculature among Sri Lankan adults: a cadaveric study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lumbar arteries supply intervertebral discs, vertebrae, muscles and ligaments in the lumbar region. Lumbar arteries can get damaged during urological and vascular surgery. According to textbooks of anatomy there are four pairs of lumbar arteries arising as individual stems from abdominal aorta and they travel posterior to crura of the diaphragm. There are no published studies in Sri Lanka either confirming this or describing the variations of lumbar arteries. OBJECTIVE: To describe the anatomy of lumbar arteries with regard to their numbers, origin and pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study was done on cadavers in anatomy departments of Kelaniya, Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Universities. Lumbar arteries were cleared from the origin of the abdominal aorta up to the point of passing deep to the Psoas major muscle. Their origin, number and pathway were noted. RESULTS: Dissected 109 cadavers. Ages ranged 43 -90 years. Mean age 70 years (SD 13.6). Males constituted 57% of the sample. The number of lumbar arteries varied from 3-5 pairs. In 12% of cadavers lumbar arteries originated as a common stem from the aorta and divided into two. These arteries traveled anterior to crura of the diaphragm in 17% of cadavers. CONCLUSIONS: There were variations with regard to the number, origin from abdominal aorta and pathway of lumbar arteries from what is described in textbooks. These findings will be useful for surgeons performing retroperitoneal surgery.