Anatomical and histological morphometry of the sural nerve in human fetuses

Abstract Introduction In our study, the aim was to anatomically and histologically investigate the morphometric structures of the branches involved in the sural nerve and sural nerve formation. Method The study was conducted on 46 lower extremities of 23 fetuses which were obtained from Izmir Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, with ages from 18 and 32 gestational weeks, without any external pathology or anomaly. During the study period, the posterior-side skin dissection of the lower extremity was performed with the aid of a surgical dissection microscope initially, and the structures forming the sural nerve and the sural nerve were exposed and made visible. Afterwards, sections were taken from these structures for morphometric measurements and histological examination. Results The mean values and standard deviations of morphometric measurements obtained were determined. Separately, it was determined that there was no statistical difference between right-left sides and genders in morphometric measurements (p > 0.05). The sural nerve was determined to be differentiated into 4 types as A, B, C and D according to the way the nerve branches forming sural nerve join. In addition, differing characteristics pertaining to the sural nerve and branches were determined. Discussion We are of the opinion that the data obtained in our study will be of use to neurologists, orthopedists and clinicians engaged in this region during interventional procedures.