Morphological and morphometric evaluation of abdominal aorta

Morphological and morphometric changes in the abdominal aort (AA) affect hemodynamics and are very important in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. In this study, it was aimed to measure the aortic bifurcation angle and the diameters of the AA at different levels by looking at the level of the aortic bifurcation relative to the vertebrae, the presence of deviation of the AA and the level of the deviation relative to the vertebrae, and to evaluate the relationship with age and gender. In the study, various level, diameter, angle measurements were made on computerized tomography angiography (CTA) images of 299 individuals in 2D and 3D using the Horos v.4.0.0 program. The level of aortic bifurcation relative to the vertebrae was highest in L4 middle level in all individuals (76 individuals) and in the group without AA deviation (58 individuals), and at the L4 upper level (23 individuals) in the group with AA deviation. In 80 people with AA deviation, the level of deviation relative to the vertebrae was most frequently observed at the level of L2-3 intervertebral disc (21 people).The diameter values of AA at all levels were found to be higher in men than in women. It was observed that diameter values and aortic bifurcation angle were higher in patients with AA deviation, while the presence of deviation was higher in women, and the mean age was higher in those with deviation. A positive and significant relationship was determined between diameter and age in all subjects and those without AA deviation. A positive and significant relationship was determined between the angles of the aortic bifurcation and age in all subjects and those with AA deviation. A change of 1 unit in the external angle of the bifurcatio aortae increases the diameter of the long axis of the AA at the level of the aortic bifurcation by 0.8% in all individuals and by 1.3% in those with deviation. A 1-unit change in the internal angle of the bifurcation increases the short axis diameter of the AA at the level of the aortic bifurcation by 0.5% in all individuals and by 0.8% in those with deviation. Knowing the changes in AA anatomy is important for future clinical treatments. It is thought that the findings will contribute to future research.