Anatomy Journal of Africa

Precision anatomy, computational anatomy, precision medicine and anatomical variations in the African population

Oliver Kinoti — 2026-05-13

No abstract.

Comparative anatomical study of liver segmentation in local pigs and humans in Cotonou, Benin

Christel Marie Laleye — 2026-05-13

Background: Pigs used as anatomical models in practical work are usually exotic specimens and differ from local pigs. In this study, however, we used the local pig for our practical work and surgical practice in the anatomical laboratory, as there are no human postmortem specimens, and the exotic pig is costly.

Aim: The study purports to compare the segmentation of the liver of the local pig (sus scrofa domesticus) with data from the literature on the segmentation of human liver, with the intention of potentially using it as an anatomical model for the human liver.

Materials and Methods: This was an experimental and descriptive study including 20 fresh livers collected from locally bred pigs slaughtered in abattoirs. After vascular lavage, an injection of blue-dyed latex was used to study the hepatic veins and portal vein, followed by corrosion. The description of hepatic and portal segmentations was then deduced from the distributions of the segmental branches of the hepatic veins and portal vein.

Results: The study revealed that the livers of local pigs have four lobes drained by four hepatic veins: right, left, right median, and left median. The portal vein divides into two right and left branches. The right branch in turn divides into three segmental branches, while the left branch gives rise to five segmental branches. Hepatic and portal segmentations based on the segmental branches enable the identification of eight segments, as is the case in humans.

Conclusion: Livers of local pigs may be used as experimental models given that their segmentation is comparable to that of humans.

Anatomical variations of aortic arch branching pattern in a Malian population: A cadaveric study

Abdoulaye Kanté — 2026-05-13

Background: The aortic arch typically gives off three branches, which are, from right to left, the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery. Variations in these branches are numerous and frequent, and it has been suggested that these variations are more common in the African population. However, data are lacking in the literature for the Malian population. Variations in the branching pattern of the aortic arch can cause dysphagia or dyspnea, or complications during surgical or radiological procedures of thorax and neck.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, observational anatomical study conducted at the Anatomy Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology (FMOS) inBamako. The study spanned a period of 5 years and 4 months, from December 2019 to May 2025. The aortic arch and its branches were dissected after opening the thorax and neck. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the data by sex.

Results: A total of 69 aortic arches were dissected (58 in men and 11 in women). The classic modality (Type 1) was observed in 43 cases (62.3%). Variations were observed in 26 cases (37.7%). The most common of these variations was the bovine arch (Type 2) with a proportion of 29% (n=20), followed by the association of the bovine arch and the vertebral artery (Type 4) (2.9% or n=2). The other variations were observed, each, in 1 case (1.4%). These were Type 3 (vertebral artery), Type 5 (bicarotid trunk), Type 6 (aberrant right subclavian artery), and a variation that has not been classified, a case where the left vertebral artery and the left subclavian artery originated from the aortic arch by a common trunk. The branching pattern of the aortic arch showed no significant difference according to sex (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Variations in the branching pattern of the aortic arch are common in the Malian population. Knowledge of these variations is important for vascular surgeons to avoid intraoperative complications during certain procedures such as carotid stenting.

Anatomical study on the branching pattern of The dorsalis pedis artery and its exact position on the ankle joint

Obakeng Modisane — 2026-05-13

Background: The dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) — a continuation of the anterior tibial artery — is the primary blood supply to the dorsal foot. Clinically, it aids in detecting pedal pulses and serves as a source for flaps or pedicles in bypass graft procedures, thus assisting surgeons in evaluating peripheral arterial circulation of the leg and foot, as well as patients with ischemic limbs and diabeticrelated vascular complications. The DPA’s significant anatomical variations contribute to surgical misdiagnosis of lower limb vascular conditions.

Objective: There is still a limited detailed anatomical data of the dorsalis pedis artery’s branching patterns and position of the anterior ankle, thus, the study aimed to examine the detailed anatomy and position of the DPA at the anterior ankle joint.

Methods: The study used 200 cadaveric feet. The branching patterns were categorized using a previously published classification system.

Results: Fourteen distinct dorsalis pedis artery branching patterns (Types A to N) were identified with Type H noted as the most prevalent, observed in 14.29% of cases. The average distances measured from the intermalleolar line, the DPA’s origin to the lateral and medial malleoli, were 69.30 mm, 47.19 mm, and 39.61 mm, respectively, indicating a medial skewness of the DPA’s position on the ankle joint. The mean diameter of the DPA was noted as 2.37 mm.

Conclusion: These findings provide valuable data for vascular mapping of the distal foot arteries. These insights may assist in pedal pulse detections, enhance anatomical and clinical teaching, and support surgical planning for bypass grafts in the management of ischemic limbs.

Double deep femoral artery associated with variation of femoral vein tributaries: A case Report

Tata Touré — 2026-05-13

Background: The deep femoral artery arises from the femoral artery. The presence of a double deep femoral artery is rarely reported in the literature. Its association with a variation in the tributaries of the femoral vein has not yet been reported to our knowledge. It can pose difficulties during certain vascular interventions such as catheterization, bypass, and endovascular procedures of the femoral arteries.

Case Report: During dissection of the right femoral trigone in an adult male cadaveric subject, a double deep femoral artery associated with a variation in the tributary veins was observed. There was a superior deep femoral artery and an inferior deep femoral artery. The superior deep femoral artery arose from the posterior aspect of the femoral artery via a common trunk with the medial femoral circumflex artery. It gave off a branch for the adductor muscles of the thigh before continuing as the superior perforating artery. The inferior deep femoral artery also arose from the posterior aspect of the femoral artery. It divided, forming the middle and inferior perforating arteries. The lateral femoral circumflex artery originated from the lateral aspect of the femoral artery at the same level as the inferior deep femoral artery.

Conclusion: The double deep femoral artery is an extremely rare anatomical variation. It is exceptionally associated with a variation in the tributaries of the femoral vein. It is important for vascular surgeons to be aware of it during certain vascular interventions such as catheterization, bypass, and endovascular procedures of the femoral arteries.

Morphology and morphometric dimensions of the acetabulum in the adult Kenyan dry bone population - An osteological study

Khumoetsile Colleen Nudelman — 2026-05-13

Background: The acetabulum is formed by the fusion of ischium, pubis, and ilium. It has a lunate-shaped articular surface on the inside which articulates with the head of the femur forming the hip joint. Genetics and environment affect acetabular shape and dimensions. Acetabular morphology and morphometry are important in total hip arthroplasty, prosthesis design, diagnosis of hip conditions and, determination of the age-at-death of human remains.

Objective: To determine the mean acetabular depth and diameter using the parameters of depth and diameter in adult dry bones at the National Museum of Kenya.

Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional census study on adult dry bones. Bones with evidence of trauma and wear out to hip/acetabular and paediatric bones were excluded, making a total of 211 eligible bones. A vernier calliper was used to measure the acetabular diameter and depth. Three sets of data were collected into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed using SPSS version 28. Student’s t-test was used to determine the means, standard deviation, median, range and comparison done for laterality and gender.

Results: Fifty-point two percent of dry bones used were from the right side and fortynine point eight were from the left. Of the 117 bones with sex known, 22 were female and 95 were male. The mean acetabular depth of the dry bones was 3.10 cm, and mean diameter was 4.87cm. The right acetabular mean depth was 3.13 cm, and the left was 3.07 cm (p=0.16). Male bones had a mean depth of 3.16cm and females 3.05cm with no statistical significance (P=0.21). The right and left mean acetabula diameter were 4.87 cm. The male bones had a mean diameter of 4.92cm and females had 4.71cm (p=0.003).

Conclusion: The adult Kenya National Museum dry bone population mean acetabula depth was higher on the right side than on the left. The males had a non-significant higher mean depth than the females. The mean acetabular diameter does not differ by laterality. The male bones had a larger mean diameter than the female bones. The current study’s mean acetabular depth was comparable to African studies and deeper than that of Indian based studies. The current study’s acetabular mean depth and diameter was comparable to other studies in the literature in that the males had a larger mean diameter (statistically significant) and depth (varying amounts of significance) versus the females.

Renal histopathological effects of Afzelia africana n-Hexane seed oil extract following sub-chronic oral exposure in Wistar rats

Ifeanyi Gideon Aja — 2026-05-13

Background: Afzelia Africana, commonly known as African Mahogany, is widely utilised across sub-Saharan Africa for nutritional and ethnomedicinal purposes. While the seed might be safe in traditional dietary amounts, the development of therapeutic concentrated lipophilic extracts introduces new toxicological variables. The renal system’s high metabolic demand for processing concentrated lipids necessitates a rigorous safety evaluation. This study evaluated the renal histopathological effects of repeated oral administration of an n-hexane extract of A. africana seed oil in Wistar rats.

Methods: Twenty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 5 per group): control and three treatment groups receiving 1000, 1250, and 1500 mg/kg body weight of the extract daily for 28 days. Renal toxicity was assessed using body weight measurements and a semi-quantitative histopathological scoring system applied to hematoxylin and eosin-stained kidney sections.

Results: Final body weights were significantly reduced in rats treated with 1000 mg/kg and 1250 mg/kg compared with controls (p < 0.05), while rats receiving 1500 mg/kg showed no significant difference. Histological examination revealed mild tubular fatty change and interstitial inflammation at 1000 mg/kg, preserved renal architecture at 1250 mg/kg, and early nephrotoxic changes including tubular degeneration, vascular congestion, and inflammatory infiltration at 1500 mg/kg. The observed pattern suggests a non-monotonic dose–response relationship.

Conclusion: Sub-chronic exposure to A. africana n-hexane seed oil extract induces dose-dependent renal histopathological changes with a non-monotonic profile. While 1250 mg/kg appeared to be a tolerable dose under the conditions of this study, early nephrotoxic alterations were evident at 1500 mg/kg. These findings indicate a narrow renal safety margin for lipophilic extracts of A. africana and underscore the need for caution in the use of non-polar solvent-derived botanical preparations.