Clinical structural anatomy of the inferior pyramidal space reconstructed from the living heart: Three-dimensional visualization using multidetector-row computed tomography.
The inferior pyramidal space (IPS) comprises the epicardial visceral adipose tissue wedged between the bottoms of the four cardiac chambers from the postero-inferior epicardial surface of the heart. Understanding the complex anatomy around the IPS is important for clinical cardiologists. Although leading anatomists and radiologists have clarified the anatomy of the IPS in detail, few studies have demonstrated this anatomy in three dimensions. The aim of this study was to visualize the three-dimensional anatomy of the IPS reconstructed from the living heart using multidetector-row computed tomography. We also developed an original paper model of the IPS to enhance understanding of its intricate structure.
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Shumpei
S
Mori
Department of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Tatsuya
T
Nishii
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Tomofumi
T
Takaya
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Kazuhiro
K
Kashio
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Akira
A
Kasamatsu
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Sachiko
S
Takamine
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Tatsuro
T
Ito
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Sei
S
Fujiwara
Department of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Atsushi K
AK
Kono
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Ken-Ichi
K
Hirata
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
Koch triangle; atrioventricular septum; central fibrous body; computed tomography; inferior pyramidal space; living heart anatomy; three-dimensional anatomy