BULBUS AORTAE: ANATOMY, HISTOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHIC ANATOMY (LITERATURE REVIEW)

Abstract

Ascending aorta is the part which is prone to intervention. With the increasing number of such cases the only unchangeable thing is the basic understanding of aorta’s morphology which is critical for successful diagnostics and treatment. The purpose for writing this article is to systemize the data of anatomy, histology, topographic anatomy of aortic root and present them in the Ukrainian language based on the latest information from English sources. It is anatomically known that the initial part of the ascending part of aorta is the bulbus aortae. The clinic is increasingly using the direct analogue of the English version “aortic root”. It is still controversially referred to as either a component of the ascending aorta or as a separate unit. Thus, the bulbus aortae or aortic root is a segment of the aorta from the aortic valve to the sinotubular junction. It consists of three semilunar leaflets, interleaflet triangles, aortic sinuses (Valsalva sinuses) and sinotubular junction. The names of the Valsalva sinuses correspond to the three semilunar leaflets of the aortic valve: right, left, and posterior. The height of the valves is less than the height of the corresponding sinuses of Valsalva. This makes it impossible to cover the coronary orifice with valves in left ventricular systole. The prevention mechanism of regurgitation from aorta to a left ventricle is also provided by the anatomic features of the semilunar leaflets: nodules of Arantius and lunules. The semilunar leaflets are formed by the folds of the endocardium and consist of four layers: the endothelium, the subendothelial layer, the muscularelastic and connective tissue layers. Based on the diameter and the particularities of its structure the aortic wall belongs to the arteries of elastic type. The wall is made of three shells: tunica intima, media and adventitia. Tunica intima consists of endothelium and sub-endothelium layers. Media: as an elastic type vessel, the number of elastic fibers is dominant. Adventitia: consists of collagen, the unformed loose fibrous connective tissue.

Keywords

• aortic root
• ascending aorta
• valsalva sinuses
• sinotubular junction
• semilunar leaflets.