Ruptured Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm - Erler Zimmer 3D anatomy Series MP2043

This dissection model highlighting a Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm is part of the exclusive Monash 3D anatomy series, a comprehensive series of human dissections reproduced with ultra-high resolution color 3D printing.

Clinical History.

No clinical details are available for this specimen.

Pathology

The heart shows both ventricles from the posterior side. There is prominent saccular dilatation of the ascending thoracic aorta, showing several atherosclerotic plaques, and posteriorly a rupture (identified by dark staining) is seen. Both ventricles are hypertrophied. The coronary arteries along with the aortic and tricuspid valves are normal. This is an example of a ruptured ascending aortic aneurysm.

Further information

Dilatation of the ascending aorta is a common incidental finding in transthoracic echocardiography performed for unrelated indications.
The thoracic aorta is divided into 3 parts: ascending, arcuate and descending. The ascending aorta originates beyond the aortic valve and ends just before the anonymous artery (brachiocephalic trunk). It is about 5 cm long and consists of two distinct segments. The lower segment, known as the aortic root, includes the coronary sinuses and the senotubular junction (STJ). The upper segment, known as the ascending tubular aorta, begins at the STJ and extends to the aortic arch (anonymous artery). More than 50% of thoracic aortic aneurysms are located in the ascending aorta, which can affect both the aortic root and the tubular aortic segment.
An aneurysm is defined as a localized dilatation of the aorta greater than 50% of expected (ratio of observed to expected diameter = 1.5). Aneurysm should be distinguished from ectasia, which represents a diffuse dilatation of the aorta less than 50% of the diameter of the normal aorta. The incidence of aneurysms of the ascending thoracic aorta is estimated to be about 10 per 100,000 person-years[1].

Reference
1. Saliba et al. (2015). Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc. 6: 91-100.

What advantages does the Monash University anatomical dissection collection offer over plastic models or plastinated human specimens?

• Each body replica has been carefully created from selected patient X-ray data or human cadaver specimens selected by a highly trained team of anatomists at the Monash University Center for Human Anatomy Education to illustrate a range of clinically important areas of anatomy with a quality and fidelity that cannot be achieved with conventional anatomical models-this is real anatomy, not stylized anatomy.
• Each body replica has been rigorously checked by a team of highly trained anatomists at the Center for Human Anatomy Education, Monash University, to ensure the anatomical accuracy of the final product.
• The body replicas are not real human tissue and therefore not subject to any barriers of transportation, import, or use in educational facilities that do not hold an anatomy license. The Monash 3D Anatomy dissection series avoids these and other ethical issues that are raised when dealing with plastinated human remains.