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Anatomical Variation of Arterial Supply to the Prostate in a Cadaver Population
Author(s) -
Danovskis Daniel,
Gervasi Megan E,
Hurley Mary,
Olivieri Marion P
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.896.4
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate , prostate cancer , pelvis , sacrum , anatomy , internal iliac artery , dissection (medical) , gross anatomy , population , inguinal ligament , radiology , cancer , environmental health
For men in the United States, aside from the skin, the prostate is the most common cancer site. Roughly 1 of 7 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. This does not include the numerous undocumented signs of prostate cancer identified postmortem. In 2015, it was estimated that in 2016 there would be180,890 new cases of prostate cancer and the disease would cause 26,120 deaths. The vasculature of the prostate differs among individuals, and is not completely understood. Typically, the prostate is supplied by arteries arising from the internal pudendal artery, however there are many undefined variations. The position of the prostate makes it difficult to study during standard gross anatomy course dissection. This study involved development of a protocol for isolation and examination of cadaveric prostates. It was found that observation of the prostate gland was enhanced by isolating the pelvic region. This involved careful removal of the sigmoid colon followed by cuts through both thighs including the femur just inferior to the inguinal region ligament. The vertebral column was detached from the sacrum by cutting through the intervertebral disc between L5 and the sacrum. Once the pelvis was isolated it could be positioned to allow access to the internal iliac artery. The branches of internal iliac were then identified. This was then followed by a midsaggital cut through the entire pelvis enabling greater access to the prostate gland. This also allowed for confirmation of the targets of the branches of the internal iliac and for further dissection revealing how those branches continued into the prostate. Future studies will involve examination of the arterial supply of the prostates of 12 male cadavers. Further understanding of the prostate arterial supply may lead to innovation regarding treatment of prostate cancer. Support or Funding Information Work supported by the Department of Biology and Mathematics, D'Youville College.