Cadaveric Study on Morphology of Dorsal Interossei of Hand and its Anatomical Variation.

INTRODUCTION: The dorsal interossei are the abductors of the fingers and the knowledge of its variation help the surgeon in treatment of fractures, claw hand and compartment syndromes. AIM: To note the origin, insertion, pattern of muscle fibres and tendon length of all the dorsal interossei of hand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routinely dissected 30 formalin fixed hand in the Department of Anatomy, KMC, Manipal, were observed for origin, insertion and tendon length and muscle pattern of dorsal interossei. RESULTS: Out of 30 hands, presence of supernumerary muscle was observed in three hands. Presence of three heads of dorsal interossei was noted in one hand. CONCLUSION: The finding of present study is of importance to surgeons and orthopaedicians during conservative and surgical management of hand deformity. Adequate knowledge of these muscular variations is also important in treatment of fractures, stiff hand, claw hand or tendon transfer.

Ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves protect the pre-pubertal spermatogonial cells from cyclophosphamide-induced damage.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Moringa oleifera Lam. is widely cultivated in Asian and African countries for its medicinal and dietary significance. The leaves are highly nutritious and are known to possess various biological activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-pubertal Swiss albino male mice were injected with single dose of cyclophosphamide (CP, 200mg/kg body weight) or ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOE, 100mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally. In combination group, MOE was administered 24h prior to CP injection. RESULTS: CP induced a significant decrease in testicular weight (p<0.01) and depletion of germ cells (p<0.001) and higher level of DNA damage (p<0.001) compared to control. The expression of P53, Bax, Cytochrome C (Cyt C) was increased while there was a decrease in the expression of Bcl2, c-Kit and Oct4. Administration of MOE 24h prior to CP treatment ameliorated the depletion (p<0.001), DNA damage (p<0.001) and apoptosis (p<0.01) of germ cells induced by CP. The mitigating effect of MOE appears to be mediated by up-regulating the expression of c-Kit and Oct4 transcripts in P53-independent manner. CONCLUSION: MOE protects the spermatogonial cells from CP-induced damage by modulating the apoptotic response elicited by CP and therefore can be considered as an efficient method of male fertility preservation.

Superficial Ulnar Artery: A Case Report of its Unusual Course.

After arising from the brachial artery in the cubital fossa the ulnar artery usually passes deep into the superficial flexor muscles of the forearm. In the lower two-thirds, it typically follows a sub-fascial course. In the present case, during a routine undergraduate course dissection of a cadaver, it was found that the ulnar artery arose normally as a terminal branch of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa, followed a sub-fascial course by lying superficial to the flexor muscles then completed the superficial palmar arch in hand. This artery gave only minute muscular branches in the forearm. Moreover, the main branches that usually arise from the ulnar artery were given off by the radial artery. This type of variation is of importance for both the clinicians and surgeons due to its vulnerability to injuries and of academic interest for anatomists.

A Cadaveric Study about the Anomolous Origin of Testicular Arteries Arising from the Accessory Renal Arteries.

Testicular arteries are paired vessels, arising from the abdominal aorta, at the level of second lumbar vertebra. Variations in the origin of these vessels highlight a potential importance regarding the vascular supply to the gonads and kidneys. This study was designed to assess the variations in the origin, course, and distance about the point of origin of the testicular arteries. The posterior abdominal walls of 40 male cadavers were studied on either side, during routine dissection in the Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. A majority had a normal course and the variations were reported as: a) Bilateral origin of gonadal arteries from accessory renal arteries, b) Unilateral origin of the gonadal artery from the left accessory renal artery, and c) Unique origin of the right testicular artery from the right inferior epigastric artery and left testicular artery from descending thoracic aorta above the aortic opening of the diaphragm. Due to the embryological attribution, these variations in the testicular arteries indicate an alarming threat to the radiologists and surgeons during renal transplants and nephrectomies, as these vessels monopolize the vascular supply to the gonads. This study was undertaken to document the incidence of testicular arteries originating from accessory renal arteries.

Multiple variations in the branches of the coeliac trunk.

Here we present a unique case of variation in the branching pattern of the coeliac trunk. In the present case, the coeliac trunk was replaced by two separate arterial trunks. The first arterial trunk bifurcated into the left gastric and the left hepatic arteries. The second arterial trunk bifurcated into a splenic artery and a hepato-gastroduodenal trunk. The hepato-gastroduodenal trunk presented an unusual course and termination. The right hepatic artery arising from the hepato-gastroduodenal trunk also showed a variant course. Such rare variations are important for gastroenterological surgeons and interventional radiologists due to increase in number of transplantation surgeries and live donor liver transplantations.

Unilateral anatomical variation of the ansa cervicalis.

The ansa cervicalis is a loop of nerves that is usually formed by the union of ventral rami of spinal nerves C1, C2, and C3. It is located in the carotid triangle of the neck, lying superficial to the carotid sheath. During routine dissection, unilateral variation of the ansa cervicalis was observed. The superior root, arising from hypoglossal nerve, was initially bifurcated and later united to form a single superior root. IN addition, the inferior root consisted of fibres arising from the spinal accessory nerve, C1, C2 and C3 spinal nerves that joined separately. Fibres from the spinal accessory and C1 joined to form a single root. Thus, a 'triple form' of ansa cervicalis was observed. An interconnection was observed between the C2 and C3 fibres. Knowledge of such anatomical variations is important for surgery, clinical intervention or trauma involving the carotid triangle or the structures within or deep to this region.

The study of antilingula and its relation to the lingula and mandibular foramen, the presence of mylohyoid bridging in dry mandibles of South Indian population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mandibular foramen and the lingula, because of their relation to the inferior alveolar nerve are of clinical significance for the orodental surgeons. Identification of the antilingula is important in mandibular ramus surgery in which the medial surface of the ramus is not visualized. METHODS: The present study includes adult dry 50 mandibles of unknown age and sex. The measurements were taken using vernier calipers. The points taken for measurements were most prominent point on antilingula, tip of lingula, most anterior, posterior and inferior points of mandibular foramen. The measurements were denoted as A, B, C and D which represent the anterior, posterior, superior and inferior distances. RESULTS: Antilingula was present on right side in 25 and on left side in 28 mandibles. There was a significant difference in distances in mean between the antilingula and mandibular foramen of both the sides (p < 0.001). Retromolar foramen was observed in 6 mandibles. Mylohyoid bridging was seen in 3 mandibles. CONCLUSION: The mandibular foramen was located posterosuperior to the antilingula on both the sides. There was no statistical significance in the distances between the lingula and the antilingula. Therefore antilingula can be used as an important surgical landmark for locating the mandibular foramen in mandibular ramus osteotomies.

A study on the human pancreaticobiliary duct system and ampulla region with their clinical considerations.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to present the variations of the pancreatic duct system and hepatopancreatic ampulla so that an awareness of these variations may help in surgical planning and prevention of ductal injury. METHODS: Forty human pancreatic specimens were used to study the duct pattern of the pancreas and the formation and mode of termination of the pancreatic ducts. Also, the patency of the main pancreatic ducts, length of the hepatopancreatic ampulla, and length of the main pancreatic duct were measured. RESULTS: The main pancreatic duct was patent in 37 out of 40 specimens, 2 specimens showed the embryonic type of the duct system, and one had the duct obliterated at its duodenal end. The mode of termination of the main pancreatic and common pancreatic ducts was divided into four types. Seventy-five percent specimens belonged to type I, followed by type II in 22.5 % and type III in 2.5 % of specimens. The length of the main pancreatic duct ranged from 11 to 21.2 cm, the average being 17.3 cm, and the length of the hepatopancreatic ampulla varied from 1 to 10 mm (1 to 2 mm-5 %, 3 to 8 mm-55 %, and more than 8 mm in 15 % of specimens), and it was absent in 25 %. CONCLUSION: Awareness of these anomalies may help in surgical planning and prevention of undue ductal injury.

A morphological and morphometric study of proximal and distal ends of dry radii with its clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the size and shape of radial head is essential for construction of radial head prosthesis. Further, the measurements of bicipital tuberosity and its angular relationship to radial head are significant in surgical techniques, like in the reconstruction of biceps tendon. Even the morphometry of the distal radius is significant in numerous clinical orthopedic situations such as reduction of distal radius fractures and in the design of distal radius prosthesis. So, the aim of the study was to determine the morphometric parameters of proximal and distal radius in dry adult Indian radius. METHODS: Fifty intact adult Indian radius (right = 23, left = 27) were chosen, and the various parameters of proximal and distal ends of radius were studied. Student's t-test was done to correlate all these parameters on the right and left sides. RESULTS: The mean length of radius, height of head at medial and lateral ends, head anteroposterior and transverse diameter, head thickness at ventral, dorsal, and lateral ends were 23.5, 0.90, 0.75, 1.91, 1.85, 0.42, 0.32, and 0.30 cm, respectively. The mean depth of articular facet, length of neck, proximal and distal neck diameter, width and length of bicipital tuberosity, and radial circumference at bicipital tuberosity were 0.19, 1.19, 1.36, 1.31, 1.23, 1.97, and 4.54 cm, respectively. The mean length of styloid process, oblique and transverse width of lower end, anteroposterior diameter of lower end, and angle of radial inclination were 0.98cm, 2. 81cm, 2.59cm, 1.86cm, and 25.05°, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study will be useful for orthopedic surgeons in making prosthesis for the proximal and distal ends of radius.

An unorthodox innervation of the gluteus maximus muscle and other associated variations: A case report.

Knowledge of peripheral nerve morphology, location, and variation is important for facilitating appropriate diagnosis and intervention. We present a unique case of absence of the inferior gluteal nerve and high division of the sciatic nerve. In this instance, the common peroneal nerve was found piercing the piriformis muscle and emerging distally in the form of two trunks: thin medial and thick lateral. The medial trunk presented an interesting course, supplying the gluteus maximus muscle before joining the lateral trunk to form the common peroneal nerve. Additionally, the arteria nervi ischiadisci was also observed accompanying and supplying the tibial nerve passing inferior to the piriformis. These variations are important for clinicians and surgeons for some radiological diagnoses and surgical procedures in the lower limb.

A morphological and morphometric study of jugular foramen in dry skulls with its clinical implications.

OBJECTIVE: Jugular foramen of human skull is one of the most interesting foramina. It is a complex bony canal, numerous vital structures, including nerves and vessels are transmitted through it. Most of the intracranial and extra cranial lesions of posterior cranial fossa might affect the structures in jugular foramen in addition to intrinsic abnormalities. As the neurosurgeons have become courageous in approaching this area, so there is a need to become familiar with this area. Hence, the present study was done to examine the anatomy of jugular foramen, including its morphological features and dimensions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 50 dried skulls. 100 jugular foramina were studied on both right and left side of skulls. The length, width of jugular foramen and width and depth of jugular fossa were measured using vernier calipers. Presence of dome, complete and incomplete septation was also looked for. RESULTS: The mean right and left anteroposterior diameter, latero-medial diameter, area, jugular fossa width, depth in our study was 11.22, 16.52, 187.34, 6.83, 11.58 mm and 9.52, 16.02, 153.2, 5.69, 11.13 mm. Dome was present in jugular foramen in 74% on the right side and 58% on the left side. Complete septation in jugular foramen is seen in 44% on the right side and 42% on the left side. CONCLUSION: This study will help the neurosurgeons while doing surgery in this region.

Methyl parathion inhibits the nuclear maturation, decreases the cytoplasmic quality in oocytes and alters the developmental potential of embryos of Swiss albino mice.

Methyl parathion (MP) is one of the most commonly used and extremely toxic organophosphorous group of pesticide. A large number of studies in the literature suggest that it has adverse effects on the male reproductive system. However, there is limited information about its toxicity to the female reproductive system. In the present study we report the toxic effects of methyl parathion on the female reproductive system using Swiss albino mice as the experimental model. The female mice were administered orally with 5, 10 and 20mg/kg of MP. One week later, the mice were superovulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to study the quality of the oocytes, spindle organization, developmental potential of early embryos and the DNA integrity in blastocysts. MP exposure resulted in a non-significant decrease in the number of primordial follicles and increased DNA damage in granulosa cells. Though MP did not have any effect on the ovulation it had a significant inhibitory effect on the nuclear maturity of oocytes which was associated with spindle deformity. In addition, the oocytes had higher cytoplasmic abnormalities with depleted glutathione level. Even though it did not have any effect on the fertilization and blastocyst rate at lower doses, at 20 mg/kg MP it resulted in a significant decrease in blastocyst hatching, decrease in cell number and high DNA damage. While low body weight gain was observed in F1 generation from 5mg/kg group, at higher dose, the body weight in F1 generation was marginally higher than control. Post-natal death in F1 generation was observed only in mice treated with 20mg/kg MP. In conclusion, we report that MP has adverse effects on the oocyte quality, developmental potential of the embryo and reproductive outcome.

A rare case of craniofacial morphology with absent face and neck structures, with its review.

The development of the head and the face requires an intimate interaction between two mesenchymal populations, a paraxial mesoderm and neural crest cells for the morphogenesis of the musculoskeletal components of the calvaria, the face and the branchial regions. The disruptions in these interactions can cause foetal fatalities or congenital craniofacial anomalies. We are describing a rarest case with a craniofacial malformation, who was born with complete absence of the facial skeleton and the neck structures, a set of well developed ears in their normal locations and eyelids at the junction between the head and the thorax.

Anatomical variations in the emergence of the cutaneous nerves from the nerve point in the neck and identification of the landmarks to locate the nerve point with its clinical implications: a cadaveric study on South Indian human foetuses.

OBJECTIVE: The cutaneous nerves from the cervical plexuses are anaesthetized by using local anaesthetics for pain relief or when minor surgical operations are performed. Knowing the variations in these nerves is important for anaestheticists to administer an effective anaesthesia to a particular nerve. So, the aim of this study was to look for the variations in the emerging patterns of the cervical cutaneous nerves in the neck and to locate the nerve point in the neck by using the superficial landmarks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The neck was dissected in 16 foetal cadavers (total 32). The foetuses were divided into 2 groups, depending upon their ages- group 1 (13-24wks) and group 2 (24-38wks). The cervical cutaneous nerves were dissected. Measurements for locating the nerve point, were taken in both the groups. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of the measurements was done. In group 1, the mean distances of the nerve point from the External Acoustic Meatus (EAM), on the right and left sides, were 2.06cm and1.85cm and in group 2, the distances on the right and left sides were 2.32cm and 2.08cm. The mean distance of the nerve point from the clavicle in group 1, on both the right and the left sides was 1.85cm, and in group 2, the mean distances on the right and left sides were 2.67cm and 2.62cm. The variations in the cutaneous nerves which emerged from the nerve point were recorded and photographed. CONCLUSION: These landmarks will help the anaestheticists in locating the nerve point. These variations in the branches of the cervical plexus should be known to the anaestheticists while they give anaesthesia to a particular nerve during a nerve block.

Anatomical variations in the left coronary artery and its branches.

INTRODUCTION: Proficiency in the anatomy of coronary arteries and their variations is important for proper interpretation of coronary angiographies. The left coronary artery (LCA) commonly originates at the level of the left posterior aortic sinus and normally bifurcates into the anterior interventricular artery and circumflex artery. This study aimed to determine the variations in the LCA and its branches. METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 heart specimens. We observed the origin, length and branching pattern of the LCA and its coronary dominance. RESULTS: We found a short main LCA trunk in three specimens and a long main LCA trunk in one specimen. In two specimens, the division of the LCA led to three branches. With regard to 'dominance', one specimen showed left dominance while another showed codominance. CONCLUSION: Variations of the LCA are clinically relevant, especially when a perioperative coronary perfusion or coronary arteriography is performed.

Human cadaveric study of the morphology of the basilar artery.

INTRODUCTION: Nourishment for the brain, a highly vascular organ, is derived from a unique structure called the 'circle of Willis', which is formed by the terminal branches of the internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and basilar arteries (BAs). The circle of Willis forms an anastomotic link between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems in the arterial supply of the brain, while the BA forms an important component of the brain's posterior circulation and supplies its many vital parts. METHODS: A study was performed on 20 brain specimens used for routine dissections at the Anatomy Department, Kasturba Medical College, in order to examine the morphology of BAs in the brain. RESULTS: In most specimens, the position of the termination of BA was normal, although variations were present in the mode of termination. In one specimen, the BA terminated by dividing into two superior cerebellar arteries. The posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) arose from ICAs on both sides in this specimen, and a communicating branch was present between the terminal point of the BA and PCA on the left. In another specimen, unilateral variation was seen, with the PCA arising from the ICA on the right and a posterior communicating artery arising from the PCA, connecting it with the BA. The anatomy on the left side was normal. CONCLUSION: We highlight the morphological aspects of the BA, the knowledge of which would help neurosurgeons safely diagnose, as well as plan and execute vascular bypass and shunting procedures for the treatment of stenosis, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations in the posterior cranial fossa.