Study of Anatomical Variations in the Umbilic-Aortic Bifurcation Distance: Application to Surgery

Mar NB¹*, Faye PM², Thiam SA², Ndiaye M³, Wade R², Tireira D², Akpo GL⁴, Gaye M², Ndiaye Aï², Ndoye JM², Diop M² and Ndiaye A²

¹UFR of Health Sciences, Iba Der Thiam University, Thiès, Senegal
²Laboratory of Anatomy and Organogenesis, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
³UFR of Health Sciences, Assane Seck University of Zyguinchor, Senegal
⁴Radiology Department, Dalal Diamm Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

*Corresponding Author: Mar NB, UFR of Health Sciences, Iba Der Thiam University, Thiès, Senegal.

Received: November 09, 2025; Published: December 31, 2025

Abstract

Introduction: The anatomical location of the bifurcation relative to the umbilicus is an important landmark in laparoscopy. Knowledge of it is also essential for safe surgery. The aim of our work was to propose a Senegalese database on the umbilicus-aortic bifurcation distance that could improve the prevention of certain surgical accidents.

Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive study that included all patients who received an abdominal CT scan with contrast injection, coronal reconstruction, and axial slices. Epidemiological factors, the position of the bifurcation relative to the umbilicus, the distance between the umbilicus and the bifurcation, and associated factors were studied. Pearson's chi-squared test and the correlation coefficient were used to determine statistical relationships.

Results: The mean age was 46.5 years, with a range of 4 to 80 years, and a sex ratio of 0.5 in a sample of 102 patients. The mean BMI was 23.7 kg/m². The aortic bifurcation was predominantly located above the umbilicus in 59.8% of cases. We did not find a link between the position of the bifurcation relative to the umbilicus with sex (p = 0.052) or BMI (p = 0.172). However, it should be noted that the bifurcation is often located below the umbilicus in female subjects (81.3%). However, age (over 40 years) was linked to the location of the bifurcation (p = 0.032). We found no correlation between the umbilico-aortic distance and age (p = 0.133) or BMI (p = 0.136).

Conclusion: Knowledge of anatomical variations in the distance between the umbilicus and the aortic bifurcation is necessary in laparoscopy for the prevention of vascular lesions.

 Keywords: Umbilicus; Aortic bifurcation; Location

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Citation

Citation: Mar NB., et al. “Study of Anatomical Variations in the Umbilic-Aortic Bifurcation Distance: Application to Surgery”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 10.1 (2026): 60-65.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Mar NB., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.