Superior epigastric artery in Vietnamese cadavers: morphometry and comparison of formalin-embalmed with fresh-frozen, dye-injected specimens
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang Street, Cho Lon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Department of Anatomy, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Corresponding author.
- 2Department of Anatomy, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
- 3Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang Street, Cho Lon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
- 4Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Abstract
Background: The superior epigastric artery (SEA) supplies the upper rectus abdominis and is relevant to perforator and rectus-based flaps and epigastric port placement. Data from Vietnam are lacking, and the effect of specimen preparation on SEA branch counts is unknown. Objective: To describe SEA morphology in Vietnamese cadavers and to compare its branching between two preparation protocols. Material and methods: The right SEA was dissected in 35 adult cadavers: 15 formalin-embalmed, uninjected and 20 fresh-frozen, methylene blue-injected. Origin, course, calibre, branching and linear distances were compared between groups and sides. Results: The SEA originated between the superior border of the sixth and the inferior border of the seventh costal cartilage in all specimens and ran superficial to the transversus thoracis in every right-sided specimen. Mean external diameter was 1.96 ± 0.71 mm, and the largest perforating branch measured 1.56 ± 0.50 mm. Fresh-frozen, dye-injected specimens showed more primary branches than embalmed ones (6.90 ± 2.10 vs. 4.00 ± 1.20), a higher prevalence of division into two terminal branches (15/20 vs. 1/15) and of paired venae comitantes (20/20 vs. 7/15); this difference was reproduced on the left. The origin lay at the sixth rather than the seventh costal cartilage more often in fresh-frozen specimens (14/20 vs. 3/15), whereas the origin-to-midline distance, age and sex did not differ between groups. Conclusion: SEA origin, course and calibre in this Vietnamese series agree with other populations and suit its use as a flap pedicle. Branch counts depended strongly on the preparation protocol; because preservation and dye injection varied together, their separate contributions cannot be resolved; both should be reported in cadaveric vascular studies.
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BibTeX
@article{doan2026superior,
title = {{Superior epigastric artery in Vietnamese cadavers: morphometry and comparison of formalin-embalmed with fresh-frozen, dye-injected specimens}},
author = {Tin Nguyen Nhat Doan and Tuyen Quang Le and Hai Van Vo and Hoang Minh Tran and HuyBang Nguyen and Vu Hoang Nguyen},
journal = {Translational Research in Anatomy},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.tria.2026.100536},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tria.2026.100536},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Superior epigastric artery in Vietnamese cadavers: morphometry and comparison of formalin-embalmed with fresh-frozen, dye-injected specimens
AU - Tin Nguyen Nhat Doan
AU - Tuyen Quang Le
AU - Hai Van Vo
AU - Hoang Minh Tran
AU - HuyBang Nguyen
AU - Vu Hoang Nguyen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Translational Research in Anatomy
DO - 10.1016/j.tria.2026.100536
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tria.2026.100536
AB - Background: The superior epigastric artery (SEA) supplies the upper rectus abdominis and is relevant to perforator and rectus-based flaps and epigastric port placement. Data from Vietnam are lacking, and the effect of specimen preparation on SEA branch counts is unknown. Objective: To describe SEA morphology in Vietnamese cadavers and to compare its branching between two preparation protocols. Material and methods: The right SEA was dissected in 35 adult cadavers: 15 formalin-embalmed, uninjected and 20 fresh-frozen, methylene blue-injected. Origin, course, calibre, branching and linear distances were compared between groups and sides. Results: The SEA originated between the superior border of the sixth and the inferior border of the seventh costal cartilage in all specimens and ran superficial to the transversus thoracis in every right-sided specimen. Mean external diameter was 1.96 ± 0.71 mm, and the largest perforating branch measured 1.56 ± 0.50 mm. Fresh-frozen, dye-injected specimens showed more primary branches than embalmed ones (6.90 ± 2.10 vs. 4.00 ± 1.20), a higher prevalence of division into two terminal branches (15/20 vs. 1/15) and of paired venae comitantes (20/20 vs. 7/15); this difference was reproduced on the left. The origin lay at the sixth rather than the seventh costal cartilage more often in fresh-frozen specimens (14/20 vs. 3/15), whereas the origin-to-midline distance, age and sex did not differ between groups. Conclusion: SEA origin, course and calibre in this Vietnamese series agree with other populations and suit its use as a flap pedicle. Branch counts depended strongly on the preparation protocol; because preservation and dye injection varied together, their separate contributions cannot be resolved; both should be reported in cadaveric vascular studies.
SN - 2214-854X
ER -