Abstract

Background: The lumbar arteries play a crucial role in supplying blood to the posterior abdominal wall, lumbar spine, and surrounding musculature. However, previous studies have primarily focused on non-Vietnamese populations, leaving a gap in ethnicity-specific anatomical data.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 23 formalin-embalmed Vietnamese cadavers, yielding a total of 46 specimens.

Results: The study revealed that most L1 and L2 arteries were positioned posterior to the diaphragmatic crura. All lumbar arteries passed posterior to the psoas major muscle and the lumbar sympathetic trunk. L3 and L4 arteries predominantly originated from the upper third of the vertebral body. The distances between lumbar arteries and major vascular landmarks varied across lumbar levels. Lateral variations were observed but were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: This study provides a detailed anatomical mapping of lumbar arteries in adult Vietnamese cadavers. These findings contribute to reducing vascular injury risks in spinal and vascular surgeries and support the design of stent grafts for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, potentially preventing spinal cord ischemia and post-intervention complications.