title: Branching patterns of segmental bronchi and arteries in the medial basal segment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the branching patterns of B7 and A7 on computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population was 2150 patients. The branching patterns were classified into 5 types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pattern 1 [the entire S7 segment was ventral to the inferior pulmonary vein (IPV), and A7 branched from the basal segmental artery (Aba) and ran on the ventral side of the basal bronchus (Bba)] was found in 1373 patients, pattern 2 (B7 showed double branching into the dorsal and ventral sides of the IPV. A7 flowed into the lung on the dorsal side of the IPV and ran on the dorsal side of the Bba after branching from the Aba) in 226, pattern 3 (B7 showed double branching into the dorsal and ventral sides of the IPV. A7 ran on the ventral side of the Bba after branching from the Aba) in 170, pattern 4 (the entire S7 was dorsal to the IPV, and A7 ran on the dorsal side of the Bba after branching from the Aba) in 99, and pattern 5 (although the entire S7 was dorsal to the IPV, A7 either ran on the dorsal side of the Bba after branching from the Aba or ran on the ventral side of the Bba after branching from the Aba) in 24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because segmentectomy of the basal segment is anticipated to become more frequent, the results of this study may serve as useful reference data.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Kitsuki Central Hospital, Kitsuki City, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chujo
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anami
mesh_terms: D063405:Anatomic Variation; D001980:Bronchi; D001981:Bronchial Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001995:Bronchography; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*