Determining Tracheobronchial Tree with Anatomical Dissection: 204 Cases

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Thoracic Surgery
• Forensic Medicine

Background:

• Tracheobronchial system anatomy presents diverse variations.
• Previous studies on the frequency of these variations have yielded contradictory findings.
• Accurate knowledge of tracheobronchial anatomy is essential for medical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anatomical variations of the tracheobronchial tree.
• To determine the frequency of specific tracheobronchial variations through anatomical dissection.
• To provide data that aids in clinical practice and forensic analysis.

Main Methods:

• Anatomical dissections were performed on 204 deceased individuals.
• The study included cases older than 12 years of Turkish origin.
• Data collection focused on variations in lobar and segmental bronchi arrangements.

Main Results:

• Anatomical variations were observed in 98% of the cases (200/204).
• The most frequent variations included the apical basal lobe with two subsegments (39.7%) and the left lower lobe basal orifice with four segments (34.8%).
• Specific variations were noted in the right upper lobe (16.6%) and middle lobe (16.1%).

Conclusions:

• The tracheobronchial tree demonstrates highly individualized anatomical features.
• Documenting the frequency of these variations enhances the accuracy of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
• This study provides valuable anatomical data for clinical and forensic applications.