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[Anatomic study of the aortic ring position in relation to the mitral ring]

F B Jatene1, M Z Ibarra, R Monteiro

  • 1Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP.

Insights

The relationship between aortic and mitral rings varies in normal hearts, with most showing a middle or anterior position. These variations are not linked to age or sex but may differ in Black individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Anatomy
  • Cardiac Morphology

Background:

  • Understanding the spatial relationship between the aortic and mitral rings is crucial for cardiac anatomy.
  • Previous studies have not extensively detailed the variations in these relationships within normal hearts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the anatomical relations between the aortic and mitral rings in a cohort of human hearts.
  • To identify potential variations in the positioning of these cardiac structures.

Main Methods:

  • One hundred adult human hearts were analyzed.
  • Reference points on the aortic ring (commissure between non-coronary/left coronary sinus) and mitral ring (midpoint between anterior and posterior trigones) were used.
  • Aortic ring position relative to mitral ring reference points was categorized as middle, anterior, or posterior.

Main Results:

  • A middle position was observed in 47% of hearts, while anterior and much anterior positions accounted for 22% and 27%, respectively.
  • Only 4% of hearts exhibited a posterior position.
  • No significant correlations were found between the position of the rings and participant sex or age.
  • A trend towards a more posterior position was noted in hearts from Black individuals compared to other groups.

Conclusions:

  • The study demonstrates that variations in the relative positions of the aortic and mitral rings are common in normal adult hearts.
  • These anatomical variations do not appear to be influenced by sex or age in the studied population.
  • Further research may be warranted to explore ethnic differences in aortic-mitral ring relationships.
Abstract

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