Termination of the ligamentum venosum and the topographic relationship between the left portal vein, left hepatic artery, and ligamentum venosum in the fissures for the ligamentum teres and ligamentum venosum.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to clarify the location of termination of the ligamentum venosum (LV) and topographic relationships between the left portal vein (LPV), left hepatic artery (LHA), and LV in the fissures for ligamentum teres and LV. METHODS: Anatomical examination was performed on 50 livers from embalmed Korean adult cadavers. RESULTS: The LV originated from a point between the transverse and umbilical portions of LPV (Tr-Um point) in all specimens, and terminated in the common trunk of the middle hepatic vein and left hepatic vein (LHV) (61%) or in the LHV (39%). In the fissures for ligamentum teres and LV, the courses of the LHA relative to the LV and the LPV varied, such that four main patterns could be discerned. In type I (48%), the LHA crossed the inferior surface of Tr-Um point and passed just left of the origin of LV. In type II (20%), the LHA crossed the inferior surface of umbilical portion of LPV. In type III (10%), the LHA crossed the inferior surface of Tr-Um point to pass just left of origin of LV, with one branch of the right hepatic artery crossing the inferior surface of umbilical portion of LPV. In type IV (12%), no arterial branches ran on the inferior surfaces of transverse and umbilical portions of LPV. CONCLUSION: These details may play a role as external landmarks for facilitating preestimation of intrahepatic structures during various surgical procedures involving the liver.

New insights into the origin of the lumbrical muscles of the foot: tendinous slip of the flexor hallucis longus muscle.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to clarify the origins of the lumbricals of the foot toward a better understanding of its precise action in the gait. METHODS: The lumbricals in the foot were investigated in 66 specimens of embalmed Korean adult cadavers. RESULTS: The first lumbrical arose as two muscle bellies from both the tendon of the FDL and the tendinous slip of the FHL in 83.3 %, and as one muscle belly from the tendon of the FDL or the tendinous slip of the FHL in 16.7 %. These two muscle bellies subsequently merged to form the muscle belly of the first lumbrical. The second lumbrical arose from the tendinous slips of the FHL for the second and third toes as well as the tendon of the FDL in all specimens. The third lumbrical arose from the tendinous slips of the FHL for the third and fourth toes in 69.7 %, and the fourth lumbrical arose from the tendinous slip of the FHL for the fourth toe in 18.2 %. Some deep muscle fibers of the fourth lumbrical arose from the tendinous slip of the FHL for the second toe in 4.5 %, for the third toe in 28.8 %, and for the fourth toe in 15.2 %. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study constitute new anatomical knowledge regarding the origin of the lumbricals, and provide insight into their specific role in production of gait. These findings will be useful for various types of surgery, biomechanics research, and rehabilitation programs.

Blending of the lateral deep slip of the platysma muscle into the buccinator muscle.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence of blending of the lateral deep slip of the platysma into the buccinator, and the morphologic and spatial relationships thereof. METHODS: The lateral deep slip of the platysma was investigated in 42 specimens of embalmed adult Korean cadavers. RESULTS: The lateral deep slip of the platysma was observed in 17 of the 42 specimens (40.5 %). When present, it divided from the deep portion (16 specimens, 38.1 %) or the lateral portion (1 specimen, 2.4 %) of the platysma pars modiolaris. The lateral deep slip passed deep to the facial artery, where it blended into the inferior part of the buccinator. The blending site was located inferolateral to the modiolus. After blending into the buccinator, the fibers of the lateral deep slip coursed longitudinally with the inferior fibers of the buccinator. CONCLUSION: The present description of the topography of the lateral deep slip of the platysma and its relationship with surrounding structures could improve the understanding of the detailed movements of the lower face and the related EMG activities, with the data also being useful when performing facial surgery.

Spinal nerve composition and innervation of the axillary nerve.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spinal nerve composition of the axillary nerve and the contribution of each spinal nerve. METHODS: Thirty brachial plexi extracted from Korean adults (15 men, 14 women, 1 unknown; left side, 13; right side, 17) were examined in this study. RESULTS: The frequency of the contribution of C4 was 13.3%, and it was mainly innervated the deltoid and teres minor muscles. The frequency of inclusion of C7 was 20.0%. C7 fibers were mainly involved in the deltoid and cutaneous branches. The axillary nerve was primarily composed of fibers from C5 and C6 in 66.6%; C4, C5, and C6 in 13.3%; and C5, C6, and C7 in 20.0%. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be helpful to diagnose damage to axillary nerve structures that occur in such injuries as humerus fractures.

An anatomic study of the medial fibers of depressor anguli oris muscle passing deep to the depressor labii inferioris muscle.

The trajectory of the medial fibers of depressor anguli oris muscle that pass deep to the depressor labii inferioris muscle (dDAO) and the anatomic relationship have not yet been examined. The aim of this study was to clarify the arrangement of the dDAO and its relationships with the surrounding structures. The dDAOs were investigated in 40 hemifaces from Korean cadavers. The dDAOs were observed in 18 of the 40 specimens (45%). The anatomic relationships of the dDAO were classified into the following 4 categories according to their connection with the incisivus labii inferioris muscle (ILI): (1) connected to the ILI and attached to the inferior border of the mandible lateral to the mentalis muscle (14 specimens, 35%), (2) connected to the ILI and intermingled with the lateral lower fibers of the mentalis muscle (2 specimens, 5%), (3) connected to the ILI but neither attached to the mandible nor intermingled with the mentalis muscle (1 specimen, 2.5%), and (4) not connected to the ILI but intermingled with the mentalis muscle (1 specimen, 2.5%). Therefore, in 17 specimens, the dDAOs were connected to the ILI (42.5%), in 14 specimens, they were attached to the inferior border of the mandible (35%), and, in 3 specimens, they were intermingled with the mentalis muscle (7.5%). The new anatomic data regarding the dDAO will contribute toward the understanding of movements of the mouth and lower face, which will be helpful when designing effective botulinum toxin type A therapies and performing various types of facial surgery.

Morphology of the mentalis muscle and its relationship with the orbicularis oris and incisivus labii inferioris muscles.

The mentalis muscle (MT) is the only elevator of the lower lip and the chin, and it provides the major vertical support for the lower lip. However, there are few reports on the relationship between the MT and its surrounding muscles. The aim of this study was to clarify the morphology of the MT, especially in relation to the orbicularis oris muscle and the incisivus labii inferioris muscle (ILI), thereby providing data to understand the function of the MT in relation to the surrounding muscles. The MT was examined in 40 specimens of embalmed adult Korean cadavers. The medial fibers of both MTs descended anteromedially and crossed together, forming a dome-shaped chin prominence in all specimens. The lateral fibers of the MT descended inferomedially in 38 specimens (95%) and inferolaterally in 2 specimens (5%). The upper fibers of the MT were short and ran horizontally, whereas the lower fibers were long and descended inferomedially or vertically. The upper fibers of the MT were intermingled with the inferior margin of the orbicularis oris muscle in all specimens. The originating muscle fibers of the ILI were intermingled with the upper lateral MT in all specimens. Some of the ILI fibers extended inferomedially to the middle or lower portion of the MT in 22 specimens (55%). The results of this study constitute new anatomical knowledge regarding the MT and will be useful to surgeons performing various surgical procedures of the chin area.

Inferior bundle (fourth band) of the buccinator and the incisivus labii inferioris muscle.

The aim of this study was to clarify the morphologic and spatial relationships of the inferior bundle of the buccinator and the incisivus labii inferioris muscle (ILI) and their surrounding structures. The inferior bundle of the buccinator and the ILI were investigated in 40 hemifaces from Korean cadavers. The inferior bundle (or fourth band) of the buccinator muscle was observed in 14 (35%) of the 40 specimen sides. The ILI was found in 39 (97.5%) of the 40 specimen sides. The spatial relationships of the ILI with the buccinator muscle and the orbicularis oris muscle were classified into 4 categories based on the existence of the inferior bundle of the buccinator. These observations indicate that the lower portion of the buccinator including the third and fourth inferior bundles and the ILI could affect the alveolar bone of the mandible or occlusion during these muscular movements.

Destination of the C4 component of the prefixed brachial plexus.

This study was carried out to elucidate the destination of the C4 ventral ramus that forms the prefixed brachial plexus. A total of 43 sides of Korean adults (male, 22; female, 18; unknown: 3 and right, 23; left, 20) were investigated. The various C4 destinations and their frequencies were as follows: suprascapular nerve, 97.7% (42/43); musculocutaneous nerve, 79.1% (34/43); the axillary nerve, 48.8% (21/43); and the nerve to subclavius, 16.2% (7/43). The mean quantity of nerve fibers destined to the suprascapular, musculocutaneous, and axillary nerves and the nerve to subclavius was 441.8 ± 316.5 (Mean ± S.D.), 298.2 ± 209.8, 245.8 ± 239.0, and 66.4 ± 17.2, respectively. The mean nerve fibers number of C4 contributing to the brachial plexus was 983.6 ± 618.0 (range: 100-1729). The main component that contributes to the terminal nerves (suprascapular, musculocutaneous, axillary nerves, and nerve to subclavius) is C5. These results may be useful to surgeons and clinicians dealing with terminal nerves of the brachial plexus, especially the suprascapular, musculocutaneous, and axillary nerves.

An anatomic study of the quadratus plantae in relation to tendinous slips of the flexor hallucis longus for gait analysis.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the morphology of the quadratus plantae (QP) in relation to the tendinous slips of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) and their surrounding structures, thereby providing data to understand function of the QP during gait, and for analyzing the movements of the foot and designing postoperative rehabilitation programs. The QP was investigated in 50 specimens of embalmed adult cadavers. The QP inserted into the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus (FDL) and the tendinous slips of the FHL in 96%, and only to the tendon of the FDL in 4%. The tendinous slip of the FHL targeted the tendon for the second toe in 4 of the 50 specimens (8%). The tendinous slip divided into two separate slips to the tendons for the second and third toes in 32 specimens (64%), and for the second, third, and fourth toes in 14 specimens (28%). Thus, the tendon and tendinous slips of the FHL may distribute the load of the great toe to the second toe to the third or fourth toe in the forefoot, especially during toe-off. In addition, the main attachment of the QP to the tendinous slips of the FHL may provide more efficient control of the long flexor tendons in comparison with that of the QP to the tendon of the FDL.

Effects of Mg Content on Electric and Mechanical Properties of Al-Zn-Cu Based Alloys.

Microstructure and properties of Al-2 wt.%Zn-1 wt.%Cu-xMg (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 wt.%) alloy extrusion materials were investigated. The lattice constants for the (311) plane increased to 4.046858, 4.048483, 4.050114 and 4.051149 Å with the addition of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 wt.% of elemental Mg. The average grain size of the as-extruded Al alloys was found to be 328.7, 297.7, 187.0 and 159.3 µm for the alloys with 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 wt.% Mg content, respectively. The changes in the electrical conductivity by the addition of elemental Mg in Al-2 wt.%Zn-1 wt.%Cu alloy was determined, and it was found that for the addition of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 wt.% Mg, the conductivity decreased to 51.62, 49.74, 48.26 and 46.80 %IACS. The ultimate tensile strength of Al-2 wt.%Zn-1 wt.%Cu-0.7 wt.%Mg alloy extrusion was increased to 203.55 MPa. Thus, this study demonstrated the correlation between the electrical conductivity and strength for the Al-2 wt.%Zn-1 wt.%Cu-xMg alloys.

Spinal root origins and innervations of the suprascapular nerve.

The suprascapular nerve branches provide efferent innervation to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles as well as sensory innervation to the shoulder joint. This study was carried out to verify the spinal root origins and innervations of the suprascapular nerve. Fifty samples of the suprascapular nerve taken from 37 adult Korean cadavers were used in this study. The suprascapular nerve was found to comprise the ventral rami of the C5 and C6 in 76.0% of the fifty samples; C4, C5, and C6 nerves in 18.0%; and C5 nerve in only 6.0%. The C5 nerve was consistently shown to be the largest in mean diameter and was found to be a major contributor of nerve fibers leading to the suprascapular nerve. This study shows that the main spinal component of the suprascapular nerve is C5 nerve. In most cases, the rate of the involvement of the C4 and C6 nerves (18.0 and 94.0%, respectively) with the suprascapular nerve was less than that of C5 nerve. C4 and C5 nerves were shown to contribute nerve fibers to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and to both shoulder joints, whereas C6 nerve displayed variable patterns of innervation.

Spinal origins of the nerve branches innervating the coracobrachialis muscle: clinical implications.

The coracobrachialis muscle (Cb M) receives nerve branches from the musculocutaneous nerve (Mc N). Many textbooks describe that the Cb M is innervated by the C5, C6, and C7 spinal nerves. The present study was performed to identify the spinal nerve composition of the nerve branches innervating the Cb M and to evaluate the number of myelinated axons of the nerve branches. Two types of spinal nerve compositions were observed: type I, composed of both C6 and C7 nerves, comprised 88.9% (40/45) of the sides; and type II, composed of only C7 nerves, comprised 11.1% (5/45) of the sides. Of the type I branches, 245.4 +/- 26.3 (mean +/- SD, range 201-267) of the myelinated nerve fibers were derived from C6 and 520.0 +/- 41.8 (range 469-567) of the fibers were derived from C7. Of the type II branches, 836.4 +/- 125.5 (range 709-991) of the nerve fibers were derived from C7. Imbroglio Modometer version 2.0 was used to count the number of fibers innervating the Cb M. The main component of these nerve branches was the C7 spinal nerve. The C5 spinal nerve, did not contribute to innervating the Cb M in the present study. The number of branches varied from one to four, with C7 being concentrated in the first and second branches. Therefore, these two branches may be suitable for the neurotization procedure as a donor nerve at the upper trunk (C5 and C6) lesion of the brachial plexus.

Analysis of Microstructure and Electric Conductivity in Al-RE Alloy by Heat-Treatment Condition.

In this study, we investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-extruded Al-1.0RE alloys. The molten Aluminum alloy was maintained at 800 °C and then poured into a mould at 200 °C. Aluminum alloys were hot-extruded into a rod measuring 12 mm thick with a reduction ratio of 38:1. The microstructure and electric conductivity properties of as-extruded Al-1.0RE alloy under different annealing processes were investigated and compared. After extrusion, the intermetallic compound having a needle shape in the cast state was finely decomposed based on the direction of extrusion. Significant changes in the microstructure were detected after annealing at 500 °C with fragmentation and sphering of eutectic particles. The annealing temperature of Al-1.0RE alloy increased proportionally to the electrical conductivity. The formation of Al-RE intermetallic compounds increases the electrical conductivity and improves the mechanical properties of the alloy through precipitation hardening.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the Al-RE Alloy with Ca Addition.

Aluminum and its alloys are used in a wide range of industrial applications from low density, high strength and a variety of structural materials. In this study, the effects of Ca addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-1wt.%RE alloys were investigated. The melt was held at 800 °C for 20 minutes and poured into a mold. The cast Al alloy was hot extruded with a rod having a diameter of 12 mm and a reduction ratio of 38:1. Al-1wt.%RE alloy consists of Al, Al11RE3 phase. The Al2Ca phase is increased by increasing the Ca content to 0.2 to 0.4 wt.%. As the Ca content increased from 0 to 0.4 wt.%, the average grain size of the extruded Al alloy decreased by 739.8, 400.8 and 155.0 µm. The tensile strengths were increased to 74.25, 76.53, and 79.52 MPa. The electrical conductivity of Al-RE alloy with Ca addition decreased to 60.32, 58.15 and 57.89% IACS.

An abnormal muscle in the superficial region of the popliteal fossa.

An abnormal muscle was observed in the superficial region of the popliteal fossa during a dissection procedure conducted for medical students. This abnormal muscle originated from the biceps femoris tendon and inserted into the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. The innervating nerve branched from the lateral sural cutaneous nerve. The distributing artery arose from a branch of the sural artery. This abnormal muscle mostly comprised one sheet of muscle mass (not tendon type) and ran transversely.

Origin of the radial nerve branch innervating the brachialis muscle.

The brachialis muscle is dually innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve running via the anterior division of the brachial plexus and the radial nerve running via the posterior division of the plexus. There have been inconsistent descriptions of the pathway of the radial nerve branch at the brachial plexus. This study investigated the route of the radial nerve branch innervating the brachialis muscle at the brachial plexus. In 20 samples, the radial nerve branch innervating the brachialis muscle was separated and traced up to the cervical nerve under a surgical microscope. All the radial nerve branches innervating the muscle ran via the posterior cord, the posterior division, and the superior or middle trunk at the brachial plexus. The radial nerve branches arose from C5 in 5 cases, C6 in 11 cases, C5 and C6 in 3 cases, and C6 and C7 in 1 case.

The marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve in Koreans.

The marginal mandibular branch (MMB) has a particular risk of injury during surgical procedures in the submandibular region, especially over the lower border of the mandible. The facial nerve has been described in many studies, but the MMB is dealt with generally as a branch of the facial nerve. The purpose of this study was to document the anatomy of the MMB by correlation with anatomical landmarks. Eighty-five facial halves were examined for this study. The MMB was classified according to the number of branches and their connections with other branches, and by its relationship with landmarks of the gonion, facial artery, and retromandibular vein. The MMB showed one (28%), two (52%), three (18%), or four branches (2%) where it exited the parotid gland. Classification was based on connection with other branches. Type I (60%) did not communicate with other branches. Type II (40%) communicated with the buccal or cervical branches, or with another branch of the MMB. The cervicofacial division coursed along the lateral aspect of the retromandibular vein in 83% of specimens. The MMB passed the facial artery superficially (42%), passed it deeply in 4%, and ran on both sides of it in 54% of the facial halves. The distribution of the MMB formed a quadrilateral with angles +19.8 mm, -8.1 mm, +30.0 mm, and -15.3 mm measured from two sides on the inferior border of the mandible. These topographical data should help to decrease the incidence of injuries during surgery on the submandibular regions in Koreans.

The spinal root origins and clinical implications of the lower subscapular nerve.

The purpose of this study was to define the spinal root origins of the lower subscapular nerve and the amounts of participating nerve fibers from each spinal root and to discuss the clinical implications. Using a method of separating the nerve fascicles that traces the particular nerve fibers at the intrafascicular level, the spinal root origins of the lower subscapular nerve appeared as two types. The first type comprised 76.9% and was composed of the C5, C6, and C7 roots; the second type comprised 23.1% and was composed of the C6 and C7 roots. The number of nerve fibers was 357.2 +/- 139.7 (mean +/- SD) derived from C5, 1070.4 +/- 390.6 from C6, and 500.0 +/- 285.4 from C7. The nerve fascicles comprising the lower subscapular nerve traveled within the partially common fascicles composed of the axillary nerve. Therefore, injury of the lower subscapular nerve may be accompanied by a lesion of the axillary nerve, which generally consists of C5 and C6 roots composing the posterior cord of the brachial plexus.

Morphological study on the rootlets comprising the root of the intermediate nerve.

The number and arising sites of the rootlet comprising the intermediate nerve root were investigated in 100 sides of human brains. The arising sites of the rootlets were the pons halfway between the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves (31.9%), the arising portion of the vestibulocochlear nerve on the pons (28.8%) and the stem of the vestibulocochlear nerve (15.9%). The number of roots varied from one to five, with the most common being one root (58%). The number of rootlets per root also varied from one to five. Most of the roots had one rootlet (63%), while 2% of the roots had five rootlets. The variation of the arising sites of the intermediate nerve rootlets and its clinical significance were also discussed.

AVSeO(5) (A = Rb, Cs) and AV(3)Se(2)O(12) (A = K, Rb, Cs, NH(4)): Hydrothermal Synthesis in the V(2)O(5)-SeO(2)-AOH System and Crystal Structure of CsVSeO(5).

Hydrothermal reactions in the V(2)O(5)-SeO(2)-AOH systems (A = Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH(4)) were studied with various reagent mole ratios. Typical millimole ratios were V(2)O(5)/SeO(2)/AOH = 5 or 3/15/x in 10-mL aqueous solutions, where x was 5, 10, 15, and 20. The reactions with x = 5 for A = K, Rb, Cs, and NH(4) at 230 degrees C produced single-phase products of the general formula AV(3)Se(2)O(12) with the (NH(4))(VO)(3)(SeO(3))(2) structure type. The x = 15 reactions for A = Rb and Cs yielded AVSeO(5) phases with a new structure type. The crystal structure for CsVSeO(5) was determined with X-ray single-crystal diffraction techniques to be monoclinic (P2(1) (No. 4), a = 7.887(3) Å, b = 7.843(2) Å, c = 9.497(3) Å, beta = 92.13(3) degrees, Z = 4). The structure of this compound consists of interwoven helixes extended in all three directions. The spires are composed of alternating SeO(3) and VO(5) units sharing common-edge oxygens in all three directions. For A = K and NH(4), the reactions of this mole ratio did not produce any identifiable phases. Each of the compounds is characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric techniques. The dependency of the synthesis results on the reaction conditions is discussed and rationalized.