Morphometric and Morphological Study of Fossa Ovalis in Human Hearts: An Observational Study
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Updated: Nov 4, 2026
Morphological and Functional Assessment of the Right Ventricle Using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Saanya Chhabra1, Chandni Gupta2, Vikram Palimar3
1Undergraduate Student, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Background:
The fossa ovalis, a crucial anatomical feature of the interatrial septum, plays a significant role in various cardiac procedures.
Aim:
This study focused on the morphometric and morphological characteristics of the fossa ovalis, with the primary objective of offering detailed insights to aid surgeons in cardiac surgeries.
Materials And Methods:
This study was conducted on 50 human hearts. The fossa ovalis position and its morphological and morphometric parameters were noted. The results were subsequently analysed statistically.
Results:
In 62% of the hearts, the fossa was oval. Four percent of the fossa ovalis shows probe patency. In 76% of the specimens, the fossa ovalis was in the inferior aspect of the interatrial septum. The average transverse diameter of the fossa ovalis was 13.44 mm and the average vertical diameter was 19.8 mm. The average deep recess depth was 2.64 mm. Fibrous strands were present in 26% of the hearts. In 54% of the cases, prominence of the limbus was noted in the anterior, inferior and superior margins. In 28% of the hearts, septal pouches were present.
Conclusion:
The morphometric data reported here will help operating surgeons determine the precise position of the fossa ovalis during various surgical procedures on the heart, and its dimensions will help in the selection of a suitable device for the closure of foramen ovale defects.
