Morphological evaluation of the distal medial striate artery. A study with cadaveric material

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the morphology of the distal medial striated artery, taking into account biometric variables useful for clinical and surgical management. METHODS: A descriptive transversal study was performed with a sample of brains, who underwent autopsy at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Bucaramanga-Colombia, which were evaluated using the perfusion technique of vascular structures with polyester resin. RESULTS: The distal medial striated artery was presented in 1.4% and 4.2% duplicated in the right and left hemispheres respectively. Agenesis was presented in 2.8% in the left hemisphere. Its origin was 44.6% of the anterior cerebral artery junction site with the anterior communicating artery and was observed in 6 cases (4.2%) presented with a common trunk with the orbitofrontal artery. The main qualitative finding was the sinuous trajectory that was observed in 57.7% on the right side and 45.1% in the left hemisphere. Also, an important alteration found at the biometric analysis was hypoplasia that could be related to the decreased blood supply to the basal nuclei. The diameter was 0.5 ± 0.2 mm and its total length was 20.3 ± 4.1 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The topographical knowledge of this structure determines the vulnerability of its morphology because it can complicate surgical procedures performed in the anterior segment of the arterial circle of the brain. Besides, the observed collateral circulation contributes to the blood supply and the perfect functionality of the subcortical nervous structures.