Aortic-common iliac bifurcation, a haemodynamic factor in the genesis of atherosclerosis: a radiographic study

ABSTRACT

Radiographic study of geometric anatomy of the aortic-common iliac bifurcation in 27 Nigerian male cadavers revealed a mean length of 5.1 cm for right common iliac artery and 5.4 cm for left common iliac artery. The take off angle of the left common iliac [mean 27.2 degrees] is more than that of the fight common iliac artery, [mean 25.2 degrees]. The mean of radius of curvature is greater on the left [3.6 cm] than the right [2.9 cm]. There is a positive correlation [r.= + 0.53] between the length of the left common iliac artery and the radius of curvature of the right common iliac artery whereas negative correlation [r = 0.95] between its length and take off angle and negative correlation [r = -0.64] between length of the right common iliac artery and take off angle of the left common iliac artery. Studies of the geometric radiographic anatomy of the aortic-common iliac bifurcation can be utilized to see whether a person is prone to occlusive vascular disease of the lower extremity even if no lesion is present at the time of investigation