Morphological evaluation of the choroidal arteries. A direct anatomic study

The Anterior Choroidal Artery (AChA), the Lateral Posterior Choroidal (LPChA) and the Medial Posterior Choroidal Arteries (MPChA) provide blood supply to the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle and third ventricle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphology of the choroidal arteries in 74 unclaimed male cadavers, who underwent necropsy at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Bucaramanga, Colombia. The AChA originated from the Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) in 96.6% of the cases, with a length of 10.1 ± 1.5 mm and 15.2 ± 1.7 mm for its pre-optic and post-optic segments respectively and had a diameter of 0.6 ± 0.16mm. The AChA originated branches to the optic tract (5.2), the anterior and posterior segment of the uncus of the hippocampus (3.4 and 2.4) and cerebral peduncles (2.6), before penetrating through the choroidal fissure. The MPChA originated from the pre-communicating segment of the posterior cerebral artery (ACP) in 97 cases (70.3%), its length was 38.1 ± 5.85 mm and its diameter 0.4 ± 0.14 mm; in three cases (2.2%) it was doubled. 46.3% of the MPChA presented proximal bifurcation at 8.7 ± 5.47 mm of their ACP origin, but in 17 cases (26.6%) an early bifurcation was found (less than 5 mm). The LPChA originated in the post-communicating segment (94.2%), without significant differences in presentation side (p= 0.189). Its length was 37.6 ± 7 mm and its diameter 0.5 ± 0.16 mm. The findings related to the site of origin, global dimensions and branches of the choroidal arteries observed in the present study are consistent with those reported in other population groups. This study, carried out in cadaveric material, provides relevant qualitative and morphometric information of the choroidal arteries, useful for diagnosis and clinical management, as well as for surgical approaches that may compromise this structure.