Morphological Study of Fissures, Lobes and Bronchial Pattern in the Lungs-A Cadaveric Study with Emphasis on Surgical and Radiological Implications

Abstract

Introduction: Lungs are divided into lobes by the oblique and the transverse (horizontal) fissures. Knowledge about these fissures is necessary for the appreciation of lobar anatomy and for locating the bronchopulmonary segments which is significant both anatomically and clinically. In the past, 1-12% of patients who underwent bronchography or bronchoscopy demonstrated some form of congenital tracheobronchial variations. Aim: To study the variations regarding the fissures, lobes of the lungs and segmental bronchi pattern in the lungs Materials and Methods: In the present study 30 right and 30 left sided lung specimens were utilised. According to the presence of fissures they were grouped into four groups. The specimens were dissected to trace the segmental bronchi and found out the variations. Results: The upper and middle lobes of the right lung had the normal bronchial pattern and the most common pattern was B1, B2, B3. In the normal left lung the most common bronchial pattern was B1+3, B2, B4, B5. In the inferior lobe of the right lung the most common pattern was (B6c, B6a+b) B7, B8, B9+B10. In the Inferior lobe of left lungs B6a, B6b+c, B7+8, B9+10 is the most common. Accessory bronchus was 100% in the accessory lobes. Conclusion: Segmental bronchial pattern variations in upper lobe of right lungs showed B1+2, B3 and B1, B2, B3, Bx patterns in 49% of specimens and 56.7% of left lung specimens inferior lobe showed B6, B7+8, B9+10 and irregular patterns. The presence of accessory bronchus was more common in the left sided lungs.

Keywords

• bronchopulmonary segments
• segmental bronchus
• tracheobronchial variations