Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the type of heart vasculature is in any way related to the length of the main stem of the left coronary artery. The study was inspired by publications describing a shorter main stem of the left coronary artery in adults with left coronary artery predominance, also associated with a worse clinical outcome. Such relationships have not been been examined in a fetus. A short main stem of the left coronary artery is thought to convey faster progression of atheromatosis in coronary arteries.
Material and Method
This investigation was performed on 187 fetuses of both sexes at the Nicolaus Copernicus University Department of Histology and Embryology. Vasculature types were determined in line with criteria set by Adachi. All fetuses had been delivered naturally. None of them had any signs of malformations or developmental abnormalities. Prior to examination, all fetuses had been conserved for a 3-month period in 9% formaldehyde solution. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistica software for Windows.
Results
The length of the left main stem was found to be related to the type of vasculature, though this relationship did not achieve statistical significance. There were no differences in relation to gender or type of vasculature or between analyzed sub-groups.
Conclusions
There was no relationship between the length of the main stem and dominance of the coronary artery in this study.

Keywords: Poland, Fetus - anatomy & histology, Dissection, Sex Factors, Coronary Vessels - anatomy & histology, Body Weights and Measures