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In the light of increased incidence of coronary arterial diseases, knowledge of the variations in the number and location of coronary ostia is essential in the planning of various interventional and surgical procedures on the coronary arteries as well as aortic valve replacements. Aim: To investigate the variations in the origin, number, size and location of coronary ostia in relation to aortic leaflets. Methods: Eighty adult human cadaveric hearts with great vessels in situ were studied for coronary ostia. Results: 78 hearts had tricuspid aortic valve and two hearts had bicuspid aortic valve. Anomalous origins of right coronary artery from the left posterior aortic sinus in one heart and the left coronary artery from the noncoronary sinus in another heart were noted. Both right and left coronary arteries arose from the anterior aortic sinus in two hearts with bicuspid aortic valve. Single right coronary ostium was seen in 63 hearts (78.75%), two right coronary ostia were found in 14 hearts (17.5%), three right coronary ostia were found in two hearts (2.5%), and four were found in one heart(1.25%). The left coronary ostium was single in all hearts. The mean diameter of right coronary ostium (RCO) was 3.17±0.87 mm and of the left coronary ostium (LCO) was 4.1±0.83 mm. The relation of the right and left coronary ostia to the sinu-tubular junction, to the bottom of the related sinus and to the commissures was also analyzed in detail. Conclusion: This study provides data on normal coronary ostial morphometry and topography and there were significant differences in the number of right coronary ostia than of the left coronary ostium. The observed large variations of coronary ostial position in relation to the sinu-tubular junction and to the bottom of the aortic sinus emphasize the importance of considering such anatomic variations in the development of treatments for coronary artery occlusion.

Anomalies of the umbilical venous system are perplexing essentially due to dissection errors and vascular connection delineation failure. Continuation of umbilical vein into the extra-hepatic portal vein is classified as group IV umbilical vein anomaly and involves the vitelline vein or its remnants. Despite this categorization most examiners ascribe fetal extra hepatic abdominal vascular abnormality as an umbilical vein anomaly. Since these anomalies involve vitelline vein, the term "umbilical vein anomaly" is inappropriate and should be referred to as "vitelline vein abnormalities". Vitelline vein abnormalities are exceedingly rare and to the best of our knowledge only three cases have been reported prenatally. We report three cases presenting with intrauterine fetal demise and on perinatal autopsy demonstrating aneurysmally dilated group IV umbilical vein anomaly. Review of the literature, embryological basis and clinical implications of persistent vitelline vein and its varix are discussed.

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Umbilical arteries normally originate from a pair of allantoic arteries. A failure of allantoic vascular system in early fetal life results in substitution by the vitelline vascular system, an inherent safety mechanism. This gives rise to anomalous course and origin of the umbilical artery. In these cases, the umbilical artery originates from the abdominal aorta and continues as a single umbilical artery. Aim: The aim of this study is to elaborate upon our current understanding about the origin, course and associated anomalies of Type2 single umbilical artery. Material and Methods: Fifty five foetuses, terminated for severe congenital anomalies over a period of 10 years, were sent to the department of anatomy for academic evaluation of congenital anomalies. All the foetuses were dissected systematically to delineate the abnormalities. Results: Thirty fetuses had two umbilical arteries with normal course on either side of allantois (urachus) and urinary bladder. Single umbilical artery was observed in 25 cases. Twenty had type 1 single umbilical artery and coursed normally. Five cases had single anomalous origin and course of umbilical artery, which was similar to type 2 single umbilical artery (SUA). After opening the abdominal cavity, the umbilical artery was not seen beside the urachus: instead it coursed posteriorly between the coils of intestine. When it was traced further, its origin was from the abdominal aorta. The aorta was hypoplastic below the origin of the single umbilical artery. All these cases were associated with cardiac, gastro-intestinal, vertebral, renal and limb abnormalities. Conclusion: Very few cases of this abnormality have been described in literature. Only a few of these cases were diagnosed prenatally as a vitelline artery abnormality: our study will thus help refine prenatal diagnosis and management.