Argasid and spinturnicid mite load on swarming bats in the Tatra Mountains, Poland.

Altogether 445 bats, representing nine species, caught during swarming in the Lodowa Cave in Mount Ciemniak, Western Tatra Mountains, southern Poland, were examined for ectoparasitic mites. In total, 259 spinturnicid (Spinturnix mystacina, S. andegavinus, S. kolenatii, S. plecotinus and S. myoti) and 95 argasid (Carios vespertilionis) mites were collected from seven bat species, Myotis myotis, M. mystacinus, M. brandtii, M. daubentonii, Eptesicus nilssonii, Plecotus auritus, and Vespertilio murinus. There were sex-based differences in the prevalence of mites in some hosts but no differences in their mean intensity and there was no observed relationship between the number of mites and the condition of the bats. The prevalence of mites differed significantly between years in E. nilssonii. The results suggested a very low mite load on swarming bats that had no impact on the body condition of bats.

Remarks on the morphology of the papillary muscles of the right ventricle.

In addition to the papillary muscles of right ventricle referred to in anatomical nomenclature, namely the anterior, posterior and septal, we have distinguished the "conal papillary muscle" and the "papillary muscle of the posterior angle of the right ventricle". The conal papillary muscle was described by Luschka in the 17(th) century as the most constant of the septal papillary muscles. We have distinguished the muscles of the posterior angle of the right ventricle as muscles which would not be clearly classified as either septal or posterior muscles. Moreover, the muscles of the posterior angle of the right ventricle are probably associated with the transfer of the papillary muscles from the septum to the posterior wall of the right ventricle during phylogenetic evolution. Some researchers have classified them with the septal papillary muscles, while others have assigned them to the posterior group. The morphology of the muscles was classified using earlier categories for the posterior papillary muscles only. We have adopted the concept of multi-apical and multi-segmental muscles.

Unusual anatomical features of the right atrioventricular valve.

Despite the great interest taken in the tricuspid valve, the anatomical literature on the subject still leaves much open to question. The aim of this study was to describe the natural foramina which are present in the leaflets of the tricuspid valve, as well as, well -- founded onto -- and phylogenetically lack of continuity of its attachment and the frenula of the tricuspid valve. We studied the frequency of occurrence and morphology of these features of the tricuspid valve in 107 adult hearts.

Notes on the morphology of the tricuspid valve in the adult human heart.

Rapid progress in the field of interventional cardiology has caused research in the field of morphometry of the heart to be in constant demand. In this study, performed on a group of 75 adult human hearts, the authors have attempted to assess the form and number of the main and accessory cusps in the tricuspid valve. We have classified particular forms into 8 groups, depending on the number of cusps and we have divided the cusps into 3 main groups, depending on the support of the chordae tendineae.

Distribution of muscular bridges in the adult human heart.

UNLABELLED: Muscle bridges (MBs) are structures consisting of heart muscle tissue which pass above the coronary arteries and their branches. Although there are a relatively large number of descriptions of these MBs, researchers do not share a common view of the frequency of their occurrence, their location and their morphology, which remain the most controversial questions. The present research was carried out on 300 human hearts, adults of both sexes (161 male and 139 female), of between 21 and 76 years of age (mean age 48 years), in which no macroscopic developmental failures had been found. The hearts were preserved in formalinethanol solution. Selected coronary arteries were analysed. Images were examined of the perpendicular dissection of the coronary arteries and their neighbouring structures. On the basis of the analysis, the frequency of occurrence of MBs was defined as 31.3%. Muscular bridges were observed most frequently over the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery (RIA) and, more rarely, over the right marginal branch of the left coronary artery (Rmd) and the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery (RCX). Using as criteria the number of muscular bridges in the heart and their location over particular coronary arteries, 4 types of configuration were established. With reference to the RIA, most MBs were located in the central part. We did not notice the same regularity with reference to other coronary arteries, nor did we observe MBs over coronary veins. CONCLUSIONS: muscular bridges are frequently observed structures in human hearts, most often seen over the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery (RIA), mainly over its central segments, and occasionally over other arteries. MBs may occur in the heart singly or in a greater number and are found over the same or different vessels.

Diameters of the cavo-sinus-tricuspid area in relation to type I atrial flutter.

Cardiac arrhythmias have troubled patients and fascinated physicians for centuries. The twentieth century was an era of progress, when the mechanism of cardiac disorders became more commonly recognised. Arrhythmias may be due to abnormalities of automaticity, to abnormalities of conduction, or to a combination of both. In order for re-entry to occur, an area of slowing conduction combined with unidirectional block must be present. Much investigation has centred on the underlying re-entry mechanisms of atrial flutter. In the light of these facts, it would seem that a close acquaintance with the detailed topography of the vena cava orifice (cavo), coronary sinus orifice (sinus) and the attachment of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve (tricupid) area could be of great interest, especially for invasive cardiologists. The research was conducted carried out on material consisting of 41 hearts of humans of both sexes from the age of 12 to 80 (6 female, 35 male). Classical macroscopic methods of anatomical evaluation were used. The following measurements were made: the shortest distance between the Eustachian valve and the attachment of the tricuspid valve on the left margin of the coronary sinus orifice (diameter 1), the distance between the attachment of the tricuspid valve and the inferior margin of the sinus orifice (diameter 2), the distance between the Eustachian valve and the attachment of the tricuspid valve on the right margin of the coronary sinus orifice (diameter 3), the distance between the inferior margin of the vena cava inferior and the attachment of the tricuspid valve (diameter 4) and, finally, the diameter between the attachment of the septal cusp of the tricuspid valve and the extemal border of the vena cava inferior (diameter 5). No correlation was found between the age and sex of the three groups of the material. The dimensions of the structure examined were similar in the three groups of hearts. In young adult hearts all the diameters measured ranged from 4 to 47 mm. The average diameters were, respectively: 15.02 mm (diameter 1), 8.97 mm (diameter 2), 17.27 mm (diameter 3), 26.87 mm (diameter 4), 36.42 mm (diameter 5). In the mature adult hearts all the diameters measured ranged from 8 to 45 mm; 18.19 mm (diameter 1), 10.54 mm (diameter 2), 19.95 mm (diameter 3), 28.90 mm (diameter 4), 39.63 mm (diameter 5). In the older adults hearts all the diameters measured ranged from 4 to 47 mm. The average diameters were, respectively: 15.65 mm (diameter 1), 8.70 mm (diameter 2), 7.25 mm (diameter 3), 26.80 mm (diameter 4), 35.85 mm (diameter 5). On the basis of our study we were able to conclude that the diameters of the cavo-sinus-tricuspid area were constant and did not differ significantly within the three (young, mature, old) adult groups examined.