Variations in the position and length of the vermiform appendix in Pakistani population

Background: though appendix is stated to be vestigial part of git,its narrow unilaterally blocked lumen,orifice composed of smooth muscle,its vessel terminates in the organ,lymphatic follicles present between mucosa and muscle layer,this part of gut most likely to acute appendicitis which is commonest cause of 'acute abdomen' necessitating emergency surgery. methods: this cross sectional study was done in 76 cadavers used for routine dissection from the departments of human anatomy for undergraduate teaching of fatima jinnah medical college,ameerudin medical college,sahiwal medical college and forensic medicine department of mayo hospital. variations in position,the length of appendix,relation of appendicular base with spinoumbilical line and extent of mesoappendix were documented. to understand association between topography of appendix with age,we made groups and investigated patients in following categories,1: from birth to eighteen years,2: from nineteen to thirty seven years,3 from thirty eight to fifty seven years,4: from fifty eight to seventy one years belonging to genders. results: pelvic position was most commonly seen in 41.83%,followed by retrocaecal 35.95%,post-ileal 8.87%,pre-ileal 4.86%,subcaecal 3.89%,rt paracolic 2.84% and retrocolic 1.76%. the average length of appendix was 7.15cms in males and 6.13cms in females. mesoappendix reached the tip in 76.16% of cases. the base of the appendix was located along spinoumbilical line in 57.5%,while it was below it in 17.6%,and above this line in 24.9% in our populations. knowledge of these variations is important during appendicectomy. conclusion: in a striking 30% of cases,the base of the appendix was cephalic to the mcburney's point and furthest from anterior superior iliac spine.