Variations in the Anatomical Location of the Appendix in Plastinated Cadaver Specimens

Abstract

Background: Anatomical diversity in the location of the vermiform appendix is a major obstacle to diagnosis and surgery in the treatment of acute appendicitis. Plastinated specimens provide a non-toxic, long-lasting, and dimensionally stable alternative to standard anatomical investigations that depend on fresh or formalin-preserved cadavers. The purpose of this research is to examine the differences in vermiform appendix location among plastinated human cadaveric specimens obtained from Jabir Ibn Hayyan University for Medical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was carried out during a 12-month period at the Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Jabir Ibn Hayyan University for Medical & Pharmaceutical Sciences. The study included the examination of twenty-eight adult plastinated cadaveric specimens. After determining its relationship to the cecum and ileum, the vermiform appendix was classified using classical anatomy's accepted nomenclature: retrocecal, pelvic, pre-ileal, post-ileal, and paracecal. Results: Of the 28 plastinated specimens that were examined, 39.29% (n = 11) were found in the retrocecal position, whereas 28.57% (n = 8) were found in the pelvic position. Specimens positioned post-ileally accounted for 10.71% (n = 3), while specimens positioned pre-ileally accounted for 17.86% (n = 5). With just one specimen showing this variation (3.57%, n = 1), paracecal variation was the least prevalent. Conclusion: The results show that the majority of the vermiform appendixes in the study group are located in the retrocecal and pelvic regions. Plastinated specimens have excellent structural fidelity, which allows one to accurately record anatomy. Understanding these regional demographic differences is important to optimize surgical techniques in general surgery and emergency care in Iraq, reduce diagnostic delays, and improve imaging accuracy.