Anatomy and Cell Biology

Korean Association of Anatomists (대한해부학회)
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Variations of azygos vein: a cadaveric study with clinical relevance

  • Ananya Priya (Department of Anatomy, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Shalom Elsy Philip (Department of Anatomy, Dr.M.K.Shah Medical College) ;
  • Anjali Jain (Department of Anatomy, Christian Medical College) ;
  • Aparajita Sikka (Department of Anatomy, Christian Medical College)
  • Received : 2023.03.18
  • Accepted : 2023.07.24
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

The azygos vein can be formed as a single root, two roots, and three roots, namely lateral, intermediate and the medial roots respectively. The hemiazygos vein and the accessory hemiazygos vein are the tributaries of azygos vein rather than its left side equivalents. Its variations, especially in young persons without any relevant risk factors, may result in thromboembolic illness. This study aimed to describe the morphological and morphometric variations of azygos system of veins. The present study was conducted on thirty formalin fixed adult human cadavers by dissecting azygos vein from formation to termination and variations were noted. The azygos vein was formed by a single root in 56.7%, by two roots: the lateral root and intermediate root in 36.7% cases and by the lateral root and medial root in 6.6%. The vertebral level of termination of azygos vein was seen at the level of T4 vertebrae in 70% cases, at the level of T3 vertebrae in 20% of cases and at the level of T5 vertebrae in 10% cases. The course of azygos vein was varying in 13.3%. These morphological variations can be useful while performing mediastinal surgery, mediastinoscopy, surgery of the deformations of the vertebral column, neurovascular surgeries of the retroperitoneal organs, disc herniation and fracture of thoracic vertebrae.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to all the residents and faculty members of Christian medical college, Ludhiana and Rajendra Institute of medical sciences, Ranchi for their help and co-operation during the preparation of this manuscript.

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