Research Articles
The position and morphology of the vermiform appendix in Sri Lankans: a study on autopsies
Authors:
P. M. N. S. Ekanayake,
University of Peradeniya, LK
About P. M. N. S.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine
H. A. Amaratunga ,
University of Peradeniya, LK
About H. A.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine
A. N. Vadisinghe,
University of Peradeniya, LK
About A. N.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
P. Senasinghe,
Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, LK
About P.
Medico-Legal Unit
S. B. Adikari
University of Peradeniya, LK
About S. B.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine
Abstract
Introduction: The vermiform appendix is a vestigial structure showing extreme variability in its position. Varying symptoms of acute appendicitis reflect this variability making the clinical presentation of appendicitis highly inconsistent.
Objective: To observe the anatomical variations of the position of the tip of the appendix and its base, length, details of meso-appendix and appendicular artery in adult medico-legal autopsies.
Methods: A sample of medico legal autopsies carried out on those over 18 years by forensic pathologists at the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya was included in this study.
Results: Of the 60 autopsies, 39 were male, with an age range of 19-88 years. Fifty eight appendixes were healthy, 1 appendicular mass and 1 absent appendix. Positions of the appendices were: 29 (50%) post-ileal, 20 (34.48%) retro-caecal, 7 (12.07%) pelvic and 2 (3.45%) para-caecal. The base was at the postero-medial wall in 36 (62.07%), lower pole in 18 (31.03%) and postero-lateral wall of the ceacum in 4 (6.0%) subjects. The length was 3cm - 14 cm (mean 8.2 cm). The distance between ileo-caecal valve and base of the appendix was 1 cm - 6 cm (mean 2.8 cm). The distance between the edge of the meso-appendix and the tip was 0 cm - 7 cm (mean 1.23 cm). In 51.7 % of cases meso-appendix continued to the tip. The appendicular artery continued to the tip in 37 (63.8%) cases.
Conclusions: Post ileal position is the commonest position of the appendix, with the base situated commonly on the postero-medial wall of the caecum. In the majority of cases mesoappendix and the appendicular artery continued to the tip.
How to Cite:
Ekanayake PMNS, Amaratunga HA, Vadisinghe AN, Senasinghe P, Adikari SB. The position and morphology of the vermiform appendix in Sri Lankans: a study on autopsies. Sri Lanka Anatomy Journal. 2017;1(2):31–4. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/slaj.v1i2.36
Published on
31 Dec 2017.
Peer Reviewed
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