Measurement of Popliteal Artery Diameter: A Cadavaric Study

ABSTRACT

The popliteal artery is the branches off from the femoral artery. It is located in the knee towards the back of the legs. The clinicians and radiologists dealing with the popliteal area use description of branching pattern of the popliteal artery, in which it first gives rise to anterior tibial artery followed by the tibial peroneal trunk, which then terminates by dividing into the posterior tibial and peroneal arteries. As popliteal artery is one of the most common sites for aneurysm formation, the knowledge of the normal popliteal artery diameter is essential to determine the relevance of popliteal dilatations. Objective: Considering the clinical importance of diameter of popliteal artery, this study was undertaken to note the internal diameter of popliteal artery. Subjects and Methods: The present study was conducted on 50 specimen embedded in 10% formalin from the department of Anatomy of tertiary care hospital & medical college. Cadavers which had gross pathological deformities in its lower limbs were excluded from the study. All the cadavers were adult males and females. Results: This study states right popliteal arteries are slightly larger (4.9 ± 0.7 mm) as compare to left popliteal artery (4.8± 0.5 mm). This study also reconfirm popliteal arteries of men are slightly larger than that of female (4.9 ± 0.7 mm), (4.6± 0.9 mm) and left popliteal artery (4.8± 0.5 mm), (4.6± 0.7 mm) respectively. On the other hand terminal part its diameter is slightly larger in male (4.5 ± 0.6 mm) as compare to female (4.3 ± 0.5 mm). This study also shows terminal end of left popliteal arteries (3.8 ± 0.7 mm) are smaller than right popliteal arteries (4.3 ± 0.5 mm). Conclusion: The present study was done in a small cadaveric sample. In our prospective different live and cadaveric study will be helpful for vascular surgeons, radiologists. The variation in the measurement of our study compare to other study may be due to the difference in live and cadaveric spacemen or due to the method of measurement. Therefore, we suggest before making any decision study on much larger sample should be consider