Morphometry of the intercommissural distances and other structures of the aortic valve of bovine heart.

ABSTRACT

The morphometry of the intercommissural distances and their relation with other structures of the aortic valve of bovine heart was carried out. A total of 32 apparently healthy bovine hearts of indigenous cattle of both sexes (50% male and 50% female), 2-4 years of age, weighing 500 to 800 gms were used in this study. The external intercommissural distances were higher in all cusps of the valve compared to the internal intercommissural distances. The internal intercommissural distance was larger in the RC sinus in case of male animals followed by that of the LC and NC sinus. The mean external intercommissural distances were 34.67+/-3.40, 34.40+/-3.64 and 34.97+/-4.37 mm and the internal intercommissural distances were 21.60+/-4.21, 21.20+/-4.70 and 20.67+/-4.06 mm for LC, RC and NC respectively. Analyzing the internal intercommissural distance, value in the LC sinus was higher followed by the RC and the NC but this variation was non-significant. In regard to the position of the coronary ostia, there were two coronary ostia, the right coronary ostium present in the RC sinus and the left coronary ostium in the LC sinus respectively and the right coronary ostium was supracommissural in position in bovine heart. Data about the morphometrical analysis of intercommissural distances and the position of the coronary ostia of the aortic valve facilitate the knowledge of manufacturing bovine tissue valve as well as those might be involved in valve replacement in human.