title: An unusually long ligamentum arteriosum.
abstract: During routine laboratory dissections an unusually long ligamentum arteriosum, measuring 40 mm, was observed. Apparently, such a length for an otherwise normal ligamentum has not been reported previously. Forty-three other ligamenta in adults and three in newborn or stillborn infants were also measured having a range of 8 mm to 24 mm (mean 15.47 mm) and 7.5 mm to 11 mm (mean 9.5 mm) respectively. Since short and long ligaments have been reported previously, both in the newborn as well as in the adult, the variability in length of this structure appears normal and without any functional significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine 40292, USA.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013223:Statistics as Topic