An Autopsy Study of the Quantitative Anatomy of Human Heart

Abstract

There is no uniformity in obtaining anthropological measurements of the heart. Measurementsvary according to the methods used by different authors. The normality standard for organ weights should be established in a specific reference sample for each population, as the normality values can be different under genetic and environmental influences. This study is aimed to determine the average values of quantitative anatomy of the adult heart for the Sri Lanka population using autopsy data with an attempt to determine the relationship with sociodemographic factors such as the body weight, age, gender and the body length. Designed as a descriptive cross-sectional prospective study, it was performed on fresh (unfixed) adult hearts recovered at medico-legal autopsy on deaths due to non-cardiac natural causes and miscellaneous unnatural causes for a period of one year. Systematic consecutive sampling method was used from September 2018 to September 2019. Only 122 samples (68 males and 54 females) were included from among 282 adult hearts collected during this period due to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Average weight of the heart, thicknesses of the inter-ventricular septum, free wall of the left ventricle and right ventricle for males and females were 296.1 g, 236.85 g, 9.71 mm, 9.52 mm, 1.28 cm, 1.19 cm and 3.41mm, 3.02mm respectively. Male heart weight, interventricular septal thickness and other findings were compatible with contemporary Eastern studies. Significant association was demonstrated in the wall thickness of right ventricle with gender (P- value being 0.038). Large scales multi centered studies to find out the normality standard for heart measurements in Sri Lankan population are recommended.

Heart weight must not be measured before dissection during autopsies

“…Increased heart weight is often due to hypertrophy of the left ventricle, which can occur as a result of numerous causes, including hypertension, steroid abuse, valvular stenosis, amyloidosis, or obesity [ 15 ]. Especially in men, heart weight is commonly increased in cases with cardiac causes of death [ 16 , 17 ]. The heart weight obtained at autopsy can be compared with previously established tables to determine if cardiac pathology is present [ 13 , 14 , 18 ].…”