A histological study of the adult ligamentum arteriosum: Novel findings with application to a patent ductus arteriosus

Abstract

The ligamentum arteriosum (LA) is the vestigial fibrous remnant of the ductus arteriosus (DA), a fetal vessel arising from the left dorsal segment of the sixth aortic arch that connects the left pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. Incomplete obliteration of the DA results in a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), causing the shunting of oxygen-rich blood to recirculate to the lungs, which can lead to pulmonary hypertension. The current study aims to further elucidate the structural characteristics of the LA via histological analysis with data gathered from adult cadaveric specimens. The LA was harvested and histologically observed with Hematoxylin and Eosin, van Gieson, and Masson's trichrome staining. Fibrous and muscle tissues were observed in all 25 specimens. The LA was categorized into three types based on the morphological features of the LA. Type I (vessel-like structure), type II (fibrotic tissue with duct-like structure), and type III (no duct-like structure) were found in 4.0%, 80.0%, and 16.0%, respectively. Finally, the remnant of a valve in the LA was also observed at the junction between the AA and LA. We suggest that this valve be called the “pulmonary-aortic valve.” In the majority of the adult LAs, a duct-like structure was still present. These data could better elucidate our understanding of the pathology and etiology of a PDA.