The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric study
Background: In literature, four types of additional communicating branches of the sympathetic trunk are described. Data concerning location, presence, and variation of these rami are confusing and often incomplete. In this study, incidence of all additional rami of the upper thoracic sympathetic tru...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Translational Research in Anatomy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X23000092 |
| _version_ | 1797842750404558848 |
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| author | Maxime Peetermans Jens Vanlommel Lawrence Van Look Leen Uyttebroek Paul Van Schil Luc van Nassauw |
| author_facet | Maxime Peetermans Jens Vanlommel Lawrence Van Look Leen Uyttebroek Paul Van Schil Luc van Nassauw |
| author_sort | Maxime Peetermans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In literature, four types of additional communicating branches of the sympathetic trunk are described. Data concerning location, presence, and variation of these rami are confusing and often incomplete. In this study, incidence of all additional rami of the upper thoracic sympathetic trunk at levels T2 to T5, including the nerve of Kuntz, were investigated, specifically examining a difference between right and left trunk and a possible intergender disparity. Material and methods: Microdissection of the proximal sympathetic chain was bilaterally performed in twenty fixed cadavers (ten male and ten female bodies). Gender, presence of the additional communicating rami and the nerve of Kuntz were obtained. Data were statistically analysed. Results: Every thoracic level had at least one normal ramus. Ascending rami were only observed at level T4 and T5. The lower thoracic levels had fewer descending rami. Intercostal rami were found at level T2 and T5. The mean incidence of the nerve of Kuntz was 0.65 rami per cadaver. This nerve was present bilaterally in 50% of dissected trunks. Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were found between the total amount of additional communicating rami and the nerve of Kuntz on the right compared to the left trunk, and no intergender difference was discovered. Peculiar, the nerve of Kuntz was present bilaterally in half of the dissected cadavers, with a mean incidence of 0.65 rami per cadaver. This study provides insight in the anatomical variation of the additional communicating rami of the proximal sympathetic chain and will have a benefit on thoracic sympathectomy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:53:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-09110f471afa4c7da5c3e9e680ff93e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-854X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:53:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Research in Anatomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-09110f471afa4c7da5c3e9e680ff93e72023-04-21T06:45:23ZengElsevierTranslational Research in Anatomy2214-854X2023-03-0130100240The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric studyMaxime Peetermans0Jens Vanlommel1Lawrence Van Look2Leen Uyttebroek3Paul Van Schil4Luc van Nassauw5Department ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Corresponding author. University of Antwerp Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Department ASTARC, Universiteitsplein 1 B-2610, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.Background: In literature, four types of additional communicating branches of the sympathetic trunk are described. Data concerning location, presence, and variation of these rami are confusing and often incomplete. In this study, incidence of all additional rami of the upper thoracic sympathetic trunk at levels T2 to T5, including the nerve of Kuntz, were investigated, specifically examining a difference between right and left trunk and a possible intergender disparity. Material and methods: Microdissection of the proximal sympathetic chain was bilaterally performed in twenty fixed cadavers (ten male and ten female bodies). Gender, presence of the additional communicating rami and the nerve of Kuntz were obtained. Data were statistically analysed. Results: Every thoracic level had at least one normal ramus. Ascending rami were only observed at level T4 and T5. The lower thoracic levels had fewer descending rami. Intercostal rami were found at level T2 and T5. The mean incidence of the nerve of Kuntz was 0.65 rami per cadaver. This nerve was present bilaterally in 50% of dissected trunks. Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were found between the total amount of additional communicating rami and the nerve of Kuntz on the right compared to the left trunk, and no intergender difference was discovered. Peculiar, the nerve of Kuntz was present bilaterally in half of the dissected cadavers, with a mean incidence of 0.65 rami per cadaver. This study provides insight in the anatomical variation of the additional communicating rami of the proximal sympathetic chain and will have a benefit on thoracic sympathectomy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X23000092Additional communicating ramiUpper thoracic sympathetic trunkNerve of kuntzThoracic sympathectomySympatheticDissection |
| spellingShingle | Maxime Peetermans Jens Vanlommel Lawrence Van Look Leen Uyttebroek Paul Van Schil Luc van Nassauw The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric study Translational Research in Anatomy Additional communicating rami Upper thoracic sympathetic trunk Nerve of kuntz Thoracic sympathectomy Sympathetic Dissection |
| title | The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric study |
| title_full | The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric study |
| title_fullStr | The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric study |
| title_short | The anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk: A human cadaveric study |
| title_sort | anatomical variations of the additional communicating rami in the proximal sympathetic trunk a human cadaveric study |
| topic | Additional communicating rami Upper thoracic sympathetic trunk Nerve of kuntz Thoracic sympathectomy Sympathetic Dissection |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X23000092 |
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