Early human hand morphology: an estimation of fetal age.

Fetal hand morphogenesis was studied between 6 and 14 weeks of gestation by scanning electron microscopy. Detailed observations of surface features allowed three individualized phases of hand development to be distinguished, related to the shape (6 to 10 weeks), to the appearance of creases (10 to 13 weeks) and of ridges (13 weeks onwards).

[Sheaths of cranial nerves in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. An embryological and anatomical study]. / Les gaines des nerfs crâniens dans la paroi latérale de la loge parasellaire. Etude embryologique et anatomique.

The present study has been carried out in order to better understand the so-called cavernous sinus lateral wall anatomy. Special attention has been drawn at the sheaths of the cranial nerves running through it. Serial sections of the parasellar region of four human embryos (7, 10, 11, 12 week-old), two fetuses (14 week-old and 7 month-old), one adult and cadaveric microdissections (14 cavernous sinus) have been used. We could observe that the oculomotor and the trochlear nerve possess meningeal sheaths, which accompany the nerves into the parasellar lodge up to the anterior clinoid process for the oculomotor nerve. However, the remaining distal portion of these nerves are embedded in a peripheral sheath. Conversely, the meninges of the Meckel's cave stop at the trigeminal ganglion, its branches have only peripheral sheaths and are located, as the venous system, in an "interperiosto-dural space". The presence of arachnoid granulations into the lateral and superior walls of the lodge, around the trigeminal ganglion, near the oculomotor, trochlear and ophthalmic nerves explains the location of meningiomas in these areas. These anatomical findings could provide the basis for a classification of meningiomas of the cavernous sinus and help the surgeon to preserve the uninvolved cranial nerves.

[Teratogenic effect of hyperbaric oxygen in rat and mouse (author's transl)]. / Action embryopathique de l'oxygène hyperbare chez le rat et la souris.

The teratogenic effect of hyperbaric oxygen is studied in Rat and in Mouse. Oxygen under high pressure causes some wastage in cardiogenesis and brain differentiation in Rat only. But fetal suffering is observed in both species.

[Dermatoglyphics of deformed hands]. / Les dermatoglyphes de mains malformées.

Palmar and finger prints are recovered in children with congenital malformed hands. The skin ridges of various hand abnormalities are compared with normal dermatoglyphics. We have found a relationship between the embryogenesis of the hand and the epidermal ridge arrangement. Dermatoglyphics are a clinically useful information for the diagnosis of amniotic disease or agenesis and for the chronology of the congenital malformation of limbs.