Use of Adult Dry Human Mandibles to Study of Mandibular Foramen from Various Bony Landmarks.

Background: Precise knowledge of the mandibular foramen's location is essential for clinical and surgical procedures, especially the inferior alveolar nerve block. Variability in its position concerning different bony landmarks can significantly impact clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: This study examined 30 Adult dry human mandibles to determine the mandibular foramen's positions in relation to specific bony landmarks: the occlusal plane, posterior border of the ramus, and lingula. Measurements were obtained using a calibrated digital caliper, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The study revealed significant variations in the position of the mandibular foramen. In relation to the occlusal plane, the mandibular foramen was found at an average height of approximately 15.2 mm (±2.1 mm). Regarding the posterior border of the ramus, it was situated at an average distance of about 18.5 mm (±3.4 mm). In relation to the lingula, the average distance was approximately 21.8 mm (±4.0 mm). These results underscore the considerable individual differences and anatomical variations in the mandibular foramen's location among the studied specimens. Conclusion: The observed variations in the position of the mandibular foramen emphasize the need for clinicians and surgeons to be cognizant of these differences when performing procedures involving the inferior alveolar nerve block. Understanding these anatomical variations is crucial for enhancing clinical precision, reducing complications, and ensuring optimal outcomes.

Teaching clinical anatomy to medical students by flipped classroom.

Background We aimed to introduce the flipped classroom approach for teaching clinical anatomy and to assess its perception and feasibility among medical undergraduate students. Methods Our study included 151 MBBS students of the first professional. We took written informed consent after the study was approved by the Ethics Committee. Selected topics of clinical anatomy were taught using the flipped classroom (FCR) method. It involved pre-class, in-class and post-class activities. In pre-class activity, pre-reading material was given to the students 1 week before the class. An assignment was given 2 days before the class in the form of solving multiple- choice questions, drawing well-labelled diagrams, etc. In- class activity included a pre-test followed by a discussion of the topic in the form of problem-based questions in the class on the principle of Think-Pair-Share. Post-class activity included summarization of the topic by students in the form of a group activity followed by a feedback session. Feedback was collected using a pre-validated feedback questionnaire on Google forms. Data collected were analysed using SPSS 21.0 and Microsoft office 2010. The response to close-ended questions was expressed as percentage. Open-ended questions were analysed by grouping of qualitative responses. Results We found FCR to be a feasible, interesting and necessary pedagogical tool for medical education. Most students (95%) agreed that FCR is a useful technique for better understanding of clinical anatomy. They learnt better from FCR than other teaching methods and their in-depth understanding of the topic improved with FCR. Conclusion FCR is an established teaching-learning tool but it needs to be implemented in undergraduate teaching of clinical anatomy for better understanding of the topics. Didactic lectures do not touch upon clinical correlations in a case-based manner, which can be easily discussed in FCR.

Indian craniometric variability and affinities.

Recently published craniometric and genetic studies indicate a predominantly indigenous ancestry of Indian populations. We address this issue with a fuller coverage of Indian craniometrics than any done before. We analyse metrical variability within Indian series, Indians' sexual dimorphism, differences between northern and southern Indians, index-based differences of Indian males from other series, and Indians' multivariate affinities. The relationship between a variable's magnitude and its variability is log-linear. This relationship is strengthened by excluding cranial fractions and series with a sample size less than 30. Male crania are typically larger than female crania, but there are also shape differences. Northern Indians differ from southern Indians in various features including narrower orbits and less pronounced medial protrusion of the orbits. Indians resemble Veddas in having small crania and similar cranial shape. Indians' wider geographic affinities lie with "Caucasoid" populations to the northwest, particularly affecting northern Indians. The latter finding is confirmed from shape-based Mahalanobis-D distances calculated for the best sampled male and female series. Demonstration of a distinctive South Asian craniometric profile and the intermediate status of northern Indians between southern Indians and populations northwest of India confirm the predominantly indigenous ancestry of northern and especially southern Indians.

Antenatal diagnosis of a Morgagni hernia in the second trimester.

Morgagni hernia is an uncommon type of congenital hernia that is rarely diagnosed antenatally. Herniation of the liver into the fluid-filled pericardial sac resulting in a thoracic mass is a particularly rare form of Morgagni hernia; only 3 cases have been reported in the literature, all with a diagnosis made at 32 weeks' gestation or later. We report a case of Morgagni hernia diagnosed on antenatal sonography at 24 weeks' gestation.