Anatomical Variations of the Lower Limb Observed During Routine Cadaveric Dissection: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Introduction: Anatomical variations of the vascular, neural, and muscular structures of the lower limb are clinically significant owing to their relevance in orthopaedic, vascular, and reconstructive surgery, regional anaesthesia, and radiological interpretation. Despite their importance, lower-limb variations remain comparatively under-documented relative to other anatomical regions, underscoring the need for systematic, dissection-based reporting.
Methods: This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy over six months (March-August 2026). Twenty-four lower limbs from 12 formalin-fixed cadavers, examined through total enumeration sampling of all cadavers available in the department during the study period, were dissected following a standard regional protocol. Variations in the popliteal artery (Kim's classification), the sciatic nerve-piriformis relationship (Beaton and Anson's classification), and the peroneus tertius muscle were identified, measured, photographically documented, and analysed descriptively using frequencies and percentages.
Results: The typical popliteal artery pattern (Type I) was observed in 21 of 24 limbs (87.5%), with high-division and trifurcation variants in the remainder. The sciatic nerve exhibited the typical Type A relationship with piriformis in 21 of 24 limbs (87.5%), while composite Types B, C, and D-F together accounted for 3 limbs (12.5%). Peroneus tertius was present in 22 of 24 limbs (91.7%), with accessory and duplicated variants noted in 3 limbs (12.5%). Overall, 10 of 24 limbs (41.7%) displayed at least one variation across the systems studied, with muscular variation being the most frequent (5/24, 20.8%).
Conclusion: Anatomical variations of the lower limb were observed in a substantial proportion of dissected specimens, with prevalence patterns closely comparable to prior Indian and international cadaveric literature, reinforcing their clinical relevance and the value of continued routine-dissection-based documentation for surgical, anaesthetic, and educational purposes.
Keywords:
Anatomical variation, cadaveric dissection, lower limb, popliteal artery, sciatic nerve, piriformis muscleDOI
https://doi.org/10.37022/wjcmpr.v8i3.465References
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