AN UNUSUALLY LONG LIGAMENTUM ARTERIOSUM

During routine laboratory dissections an unusually long ligamentum art eriosum, measuring 40 mm, was observed. Apparently, such a length for an otherwise normal ligamentum has not been reported previously. Forty -three other ligamenta in adults and three in newborn or stillborn inf ants were also measured having a range of 8 mm to 24 mm (mean 15.47 mm ) and 7.5 mm to 11 mm (mean 9.5 mm) respectively. Since short and long ligaments have been reported previously, both in the newborn as well as in the adult, the variability in length of this structure appears n ormal and without any functional significance.