Anatomical variations of the hepatic artery in it's extra hepatic journey: a cadaveric study with its clinical implications.

Vascular anomalies are a serendipitous finding during surgeries and diagnostic angiography. Such variations are frequently encountered in the abdominal region. These anomalies are usually asymptomatic but the presence of hepatic arterial variations may lead to injuries of the liver during surgery. The present study was conducted on 35 adult embalmed cadavers, 31 males, 4 females from August 2015 to December 2021 in the Department of Anatomy, Amrita School of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi. In this study of 35 cadavers, we present 3 variants: an accessory right hepatic artery, replaced common hepatic artery, replaced common hepatic artery anastomosis with accessory left hepatic artery and an arc of Buhler. One of our variants has not yielded a precedent in literature search. We have compared these variants with Michels and Hiatt classification. It is known that different variants arise at distinct stages of embryonic development. As specialists in anatomy, we have tried to correlate the variants in our study with their embryological origins.

Small but viscious: the subclavius posticus muscle / Pequeño pero vicioso: el músculo subclavius posticus

SUMMARY: Accessory muscles of the neck are rare and are of clinical significance when present. During routine dissection of head and neck, two accessory muscles were found in the neck region of two cadavers, both male, one on the right and the other on the left. Both muscles took origin from the superior margin of the scapula and the insertion of the first muscle was to the clavicle, merging with subclavius and the second muscle got inserted to the first rib near the costochondral junction. This paper highlights the clinical significance and embryological aspects of such accessory muscles in the neck region.

RESUMEN: Los músculos accesorios del cuello son infrecuentes y tienen importancia clínica cuando están presentes. Durante la disección de rutina de la cabeza y el cuello, se encontraron dos músculos accesorios en la región del cuello de dos cadáveres, ambos de sexo masculino, uno a la derecha y otro a la izquierda. Ambos músculos se originaban en el margen superior de la escápula y la inserción del primer músculo se extendía a la clavícula, fusionándose con el músculo subclavio. El segundo músculo se insertó en la primera costilla cerca de la unión costocondral. Este artículo destaca la importancia clínica y los aspectos embriológicos de dichos músculos accesorios en la región del cuello.

A cadaveric study on variations in branching pattern of external carotid artery.

Variations in the vascular anatomy of the carotid triangle have been reported in current scientific literature. The carotid arteries, being the major feeding arteries of the head and neck deserve special importance and protection from iatrogenic injury during radiological evaluations and surgical interventions. The present study was carried out over a period of 4 years from 2012-2016 to assess the variant anatomy of external carotid artery. The external carotid artery and its branches were dissected bilaterally in 40 formalin embalmed cadavers. The external carotid artery was traced from its origin to termination and variations in the branching pattern as well as the level of the carotid bifurcation were observed and analysed. A higher carotid bifurcation was observed in 25% cases. The linguofacial trunk was the commonest variation noted in the branching pattern seen in 20% cases. A single case of unilateral thyrolinguofacial trunk was also observed. The external carotid artery gave rise to accessory branches in 7.5% cases namely the superior laryngeal, accessory ascending pharyngeal and masseteric branches. A slender branch to the internal jugular vein was also observed in one case. These findings may provide further insight into the understanding of the vascular anatomy of the carotid triangle to the curious student, the discerning radiologist and the vigilant surgeon to avert complications and help improve overall treatment outcome.

A Study of the Supratrochlear Foramen of the Humerus: Anatomical and Clinical Perspective.

INTRODUCTION: The Supratrochlear Foramen (STF) is a variably shaped perforation present in the bony septum that separates the olecranon and coronoid fossae at the distal end of the humerus, between the two epicondyles. Its incidence varies widely from 0.3% to 58% in different races. AIM: This study aims to describe its prevalence and morphometry in relation to its shape and size and distance from the epicondyles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study of 244 unpaired humerii, 130 of the left side and 114 of the right side of unknown age and sex were examined for the presence of STF and prevalence stated. The STF was classified according to shape and their metric assessment was carried out, along with measures of its distance from the epicodyles and trochlear margin. RESULTS: Of the 244 humeri studied 60 showed presence of the foramen, 45 were opaque and 139 showed translucent septum. The sidewise prevalence of opacity, translucent septum and foraminae were tabulated. The commonest shape noted was oval. Other shapes such as round, triangular, rectangular, sieve and reniform were visualised. In the oval STF, transverse and vertical diameters were measured. The transverse and vertical diameters on the left were 4.9 and 3.27 mm and on the right it was 5.12 and 3.48mm respectively. The distance from the medial epicondyle, lateral epicondyle and trochlea to the STF margins was measured and the mean values were calculated separately for right and left sides. The mean diameter of the round foramen was 3.23 and 4.89mm for left and right sides respectively. In the triangular type the maximum vertical and transverse diameters were recorded. There was only one sample of the rectangular type. Its length was 4.1mm and the breadth was 2.27mm and it belonged to the right side. The reniform type totalled 7 of which 6 were of the left side. The average vertical length at the hilum was 4.52 mm and the transverse measurement was 7.44 mm. The foraminae of the right side were found to be larger, regardless of shape. CONCLUSION: Its existence is important to the orthopaedician in the preoperative planning of nailing fractures of the distal humerus and to the radiologist for differentiating it from an osteolytic or cystic lesion.

Variations in the origin of superior laryngeal artery.

The superior laryngeal artery is the principal artery supplying the laryngeal mucosa, musculature, and glands. Knowledge of variations in the origin of superior laryngeal artery could prove to be very useful during reconstructive surgeries of the larynx, partial laryngectomy, laryngeal transplantation, and also during procedures like super-selective intra-arterial chemotherapy for laryngeal and hypolaryngeal cancers. However, relatively few studies have been done on the superior laryngeal artery in comparison to its clinical importance. The present study was aimed at documenting the prevalence of variable origin of the superior laryngeal artery within the carotid triangle. Sixty hemi-necks obtained from 30 South Indian cadavers were dissected and studied for variations in the origin of superior laryngeal artery. It was observed that the superior laryngeal artery took origin from superior thyroid in 91.7% cases. Variable origin from the external carotid artery was noted in 5% cases. The superior laryngeal artery was found to arise from the lingual artery in one case alone (1.7%). In addition to the above findings, a very rare variation of superior laryngeal artery arising from the ascending pharyngeal (1.7%) was also observed in the hemi-neck of one cadaver. All the variations that were observed were unilateral and on the left side. These findings may help provide further insight to the anatomists, radiologists and surgeons and can help improve performances during surgical manipulations of the larynx.

An Anomalous Right Subclavian Artery with a Retrotracheal Course: A Case Report.

An aberrant right subclavian artery arising as the last vessel of the arch of aorta is an uncommon anatomic anomaly with prevalence reported between 0.2% and 2.0%. In 80% of the cases the aberrant right subclavian artery takes a retro-oesophageal course to the right upper limb. During routine dissection of cadavers for teaching undergraduate medical students an anomalous retrotracheal right subclavian artery which is a very rare vascular anomaly was encountered in a 35-year-old male cadaver. The artery arose as the last branch of the arch of aorta and coursed to the right between the trachea and oesophagus. The presence of this vascular anomaly could be an unusual cause of dysphagia and breathing difficulty. The clinical significance and embryological aspects of this vascular variant is discussed in this paper.

Versatile but temperamental: a morphological study of palmaris longus in the cadaver.

INTRODUCTION: Palmaris longus (PL) is one of the most variable muscles in our body and is vestigial functionally. Its long tendon and its superficial location make it an ideal source for tendon harvesting. Variations such as absence, duplication and reversal have far reaching clinical impact. The aim of this study is to estimate the presence, variants and nerve supply of the PL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Upper extremity of 24 cadavers was dissected and PL was examined. The results were compared to other studies on the PL and literature survey was carried out. RESULTS: Thirty nine specimens showed normal morphology and four showed complete agenesis. Other morphological variations seen included - reversed, hybrid, fusiform, fleshy and bifurcated tendon of insertion. CONCLUSION: Every surgeon must be aware of the variations of the versatile but temperamental PL. Prior knowledge of the layout of the muscle helps in planning intricate surgeries to which this tendon is put use to.