[Study of the vascular morphology of the lower limb nerves used as grafts]. / Estudio de la morfología vascular en los nervios de la extremidad inferior utilizados como injertos.

INTRODUCTION: The placement of a vascularized nervous graft is an option for acute nervous injuries treatment, as this has demonstrated a longer viability. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the vascularity of the main lower limb nerves used as vascularized nervous grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was followed out a descriptive, transversal and non-comparative study to analyse the saphenous, the sural, the deep peroneal and the superficial peroneal nerves vascularity. This study was performed in two stages: 1) an in situ vascularity study and 2) a morphometric study. RESULTS: By the in situ study, it was demonstrated the following: the total length of the lower limb nerves used as graft, was in a decrease order: sural nerve (micro = 29.26 cm, +/- 4.05 cm), superficial peroneal nerve (micro = 28.61 cm, +/- 3.97 cm), deep peroneal nerve (micro = 26.64 cm, +/- 5.21 cm) and saphenous nerve (micro = 25.12 cm, +/- 4.42 cm). The morphometric study demonstrated that the dominant artery with the major diameter belongs to the saphenous nerve, with a diameter of 1.13 mm; then we have the superficial peroneal nerve with a 1.01 mm diameter, followed by the deep peroneal nerve with 0.91 mm, and finally the sural nerve with the smallest diameter, 0.85 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The saphenous nerve has the most appropriated morphological characteristics to be used as a vascularized graft; by the contrary the deep peroneal nerve represents the last option from all the nerves included in this study.

Anatomical study of the horseshoe kidney / Estudio anatómico del riñón en herradura

We present the anatomical study of a horseshoe kidney found during dissection practice at the human anatomy laboratory. The specimen consisted of a renal mass joined at its lower poles by an isthmus composed of renal parenchyma. We provide a macroscopic description of renal blood supply and the excretory system. We also discuss the anatomic and embryologic importance of this anomaly.

Se presenta el estudio anatómico de un riñón en herradura encontrado durante la práctica de disección en el Laboratorio de Anatomía Humana. La muestra consistió de una masa renal unida a sus polos inferiores por medio de un istmo de parénquima renal. Proporcionamos una descripción macroscópica de suministro sanguíneo renal y el sistema excretor. Asimismo, se discute la importancia anatómica y embriológica de esta anomalía.

Estudio Anatómico de los Arcos Palmares: Diámetro y Presentación / Anatomic Study of the Palmar Archs: Diameter and Presentation

Las arterias más importantes de la mano son la radial y ulnar, las que forman los arcos palmares superficial y profundo. La descripción detallada de las características anatómicas de los arcos palmares ha contribuido al desarrollo de nuevas técnicas microquirurgicas en la mano. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron establecer el patrón arterial de la mano, así como determinar el diámetro luminal de las arterias que contribuyen a la formación de los arcos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, utilizándose 25 manos de cadáveres embalsamados. Se seccionaron las arterias en diferentes puntos para su tinción y observación al microscopio de luz. El arco palmar superficial completo fue observado en 14 (56%) muestras y en 11 (44%) se presentó de manera incompleta. El arco palmar profundo completo se encontró en 20 muestras (80%) y sólo en 5 (20%) fue incompleto. La presentación de los arcos arteriales palmares es muy compleja y variada, encontrándose siempre, al menos uno de los arcos completo.

The radial artery and unlar artery are the most important arteries of the hand, they form a superficial and deep palmar arches. The detailed description of the anatomic characteristics of the palmar arches have contributed to develop new microsurgical techniques for the hand. The aim of this study was to establish the arterial pattern in the hand, and also to determine the luminal diameter of the arteries that contributes to palmar arches. It was a descriptive study. We used 25 hands of embalmed cadavers. We cut the arteries in differents points and after that they were stained and observed in optical microscope. The complete superficial palmar arch was found in 14 (56%) samples and 11 (44%) samples it was incomplete. The complete deep palmar arch was found in 20 (80%) samples and 5 (20%) it was incomplete. The presentation of the palmar arches is complex and variable, but always exist one complete arch (deep or superficial).