A cadaveric histological investigation of the prostate with three-dimensional reconstruction for better results in continence and erectile function after radical prostatectomy.

In this study our aim is to increase the understanding of the prostate and related organs anatomy for better continence and erectile function results after urological surgery. Prostate and related organs were dissected from seven cadavers. After dissection, 165 serial sections with 300 microm thickness were derived at a 100 microm interval. The histological images were examined and imported to the computer. Three-dimensional (3D) remodeling had been performed. The findings were evaluated into three categories: macroscopic, microscopic and 3D reconstruction. Striated muscle fibers had been detected at the anterior fibromuscular stroma in histological sections. In 3D remodeling, urethra seemed to be a complete functional unit, beginning from the trigone up to the membranous urethra. The neurovascular bundles run under the pelvic fascia on both sides and go through to the bladder neck at 5 and 7 o'clock. Computer remodeling demonstrated that neurovascular structures had a close association with the bladder neck and the seminal vesicle. Computer program made it possible to rotate all 3D-reconstructed figures by 360 degrees and examine them from all possible angles. All reconstructed structures can be examined together at the same time or one by one. Surgeons must pay special attention to the continence area described as a single unit, beginning from trigone to the membranous urethra, during the surgery. Meticulous dissection of the neurovascular bundles, especially close to the seminal vesicles and bladder neck, during the radical prostatectomy is necessary. These reconstructions can be used for the educational purpose of medical students as well as the urology surgeons.

Evaluation of the long-term effects of oleum origani on the toxicity induced by administration of streptozotocin in rats.

Oleum origani, the essential oil of Origanum onites L., is a traditional plant material used in Turkey for the treatment of several diseases, including diabetes mellitus. This study has evaluated the effect of oleum origani on streptozotocin-induced tissue injury and haematological changes. The effect of oleum origani on glycaemia was also studied. Long-term administration of oleum origani resulted in significant improvement of tissue injury induced by streptozotocin treatment. No effect on blood glucose levels was detected. In addition, any visible toxicity or disturbance of haematological parameters and tissue structure attributable to the long-term use of oleum origani were not established in normal rats. The data indicate that long-term use of oleum origani might be effective in preventing or at least in retarding the development of some complications of diabetes mellitus. Further investigation is required to determine the underlying mechanism(s) of the protective effect against tissue injury induced by streptozotocin-treatment of rats.

The evaluation of long-term effects of cinnamon bark and olive leaf on toxicity induced by streptozotocin administration to rats.

The effects of cinnamon bark and olive leaf have been investigated on streptozotocin-induced tissue injury, and some biochemical and haematological changes in rats. The effects on glycaemia were also evaluated. Long-term administration of olive leaf caused significant improvement in tissue injury induced by streptozotocin treatment; the effect of cinnamon bark was less extent. No effects on blood glucose levels were detected. However, significant decreases in some increased biochemical and haematological parameters of streptozotocin-treated rats were observed. Aspartate aminotransferase, urea and cholesterol levels were significantly decreased by treatment with both plant materials, and alanine aminotransferase by treatment with olive leaf. Cinnamon bark also caused a significant decrease in platelet counts. In addition, any visible toxicity, except decrease in body weight gain, attributable to the long-term use of plant materials was not established in normal rats. The data indicate that long-term use of olive leaf and cinnamon bark may provide benefit against diabetic conditions. Determination of underlying mechanism(s) of beneficial effects, toxicity to other systems and clinical assessments of related plant materials are major topics requiring further studies.

Unusual branching and course of the testicular artery.

In a Turkish male, the right testicular artery was found to originate from the aorta at nearly the same level as and anterior to the renal artery. This testicular artery was seen to give off the inferior phrenic and superior suprarenal arteries. During its course the artery was posterior to the inferior vena cava. In addition to the above mentioned characteristics, the artery arose 5 mm below the renal vein and, after ascending to the superior border of the renal vein, arched over and descended in front of it to continue along its downwards course. This case implies that the lateral mesonephric arteries form anastomoses and that different arteries may interfere with each other's development. Another significant fact in this case is that the testicular artery crossed over the renal vein and descended anterior to it; a condition which may cause pathological disturbances.

High origin of gonadal arteries associated with other variations.

In two cases, one male and one female, the gonadal arteries, together with accessory renal arteries, originated from the abdominal aorta at a higher level than normal. The variation was bilateral in the male and unilateral in the female. Associated unusual findings in one of these cases (male cadaver) were: a. external lobation of the kidneys, b. slight lateral rotation of the kidneys, more pronounced on the right side, c. a right middle suprarenal artery and a parenchymal branch to the kidney arising from the right testicular artery by a common trunk. Additionally, the right kidneys were at a higher position than the left kidneys in both of the cases. Embryological as well as surgical aspects are discussed.

Morphometry of the fibrous ring of the mitral valve.

In standard textbooks of anatomy it is generally accepted that the fibrous ring of the mitral valve lies in a single plane throughout its entire circumference. Some authors have stated otherwise, but there are no morphometric studies. 30 formalin-fixed hearts were sectioned to reveal the shape of the fibrous ring of the mitral valve and studied by morphometric, radiographic and histological methods. It was noted that the fibrous ring adopted a horizontal "S" shape around the two commissures and the average distance between the highest and lowest parts of the fibrous ring was found to be 7.1 mm (range 6.2-12.5 mm). Radiographic evaluation revealed that the fibrous ring lies approximately in two planes rather than in one. Histological study showed that the fibrous tissue of the mitral valve is continuous with the aortic fibrous ring, and that a slight but significant thickening marks the insertion of the mitral valve. The mitral valve thus lies in two planes, and it is hoped that this information will contribute to cardiac and valvuloplastic surgery.

Topographical relations of the facial artery in the region of the modiolus anguli oris.

The facial artery together with the surrounding tissue in the modiolus was examined under the light microscope. The specimens were obtained from 15 formalin fixed human cadavers in our department. Each specimen was excised as a 1 cm3 cubic mass from the region where the facial artery bisected the line drawn horizontally from the angle of mouth. Light microscopic evaluation of the specimens revealed that the facial artery is surrounded by adipose tissue except one specimen. There was not a fibrous canal nor cleft at the angle of mouth in the modiolus as described.

Case of an abductor pollicis longus muscle: variation or differentiation?

A variation of the abductor pollicis longus muscle in a 65 year old cadaver was encountered during routine dissection in our department. The muscle was found to split into two bellies and give off two tendons, one of which inserted to the abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis and flexor pollicis brevis muscles. The other tendon inserted to the first metacarpal bone which is considered a normal insertion site for the abductor pollicis longus muscle.

Unusual branching in lumbar plexus. Case report.

This article describes a complex bilateral variation in the formation of lumbar plexus in a 32 year old male cadaver. On the left side the plexus was postifixed and located posterior to the psoas major muscle. The femoral nerve was formed by the union of anterior rami of the second, third, fourth and fifth lumbar spinal nerves. On the right side, the lumbar plexus was prefixed. The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh was formed. By the union of the anterior rami of the first and second lumbar spinal nerves. The femoral nerve formed by branches from the first, second, third and fifth lumbar spinal nerves while the obturator nerve was formed by the union of the first, second and third lumbar spinal nerves. The right lumbar plexus was located in the substance of the psoas major muscle. In the present case, the formation of branches of the lumbar plexus were different from the previous data present in the literature.

The configuration of prepubertal hymen in Turkish population and its clinical aspect.

The importance of the hymenal configuration lies in the fact that it is accepted as an important sign of the virginity in many countries and also it needs a clearcut definition for the forensic evaluation of child abuse and rape. To improve understanding of configuration of the normal hymen we studied 100 prepubertal hymens. In addition to the most commonly seen types we found the fimbriated hymen at a high rate especially in adolescents. There was another configuration the appearance of which differed on each half of the vaginal orifice; one half had a labium while the other had fimbriae. The tagged type hymen was also encountered.

Unusual branching in lumbar plexus: case report.

This article describes a complex bilateral variation in the formation of lumbar plexus in a 32 year old male cadaver. On the left side the plexus was postfixed and located posterior to the psoas major muscle. The femoral nerve was formed by the union of anterior rami of the second, third, fourth and fifth lumbar spinal nerves. On the right side, the lumbar plexus was prefixed. The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh was formed by the union of the anterior rami of the first and second lumbar spinal nerves. The femoral nerve formed by branches from the first, second, third and fifth lumbar spinal nerves while the obturator nerve was formed by the union of the first, second and third lumbar spinal nerves. The right lumbar plexus was located in the substance of the psoas major muscle. In the present case, the formation of branches of the lumbar plexus were different from the previous data present in the literature.

Localization of the central sulcus and adjacent sulci in human: a study by MRI.

Variations in localization of the central sulcus and the sulci around the central sulcus namely the superior frontal sulcus, precentral sulcus, postcentral sulcus, marginal ramus of cingulate sulcus were studied in vertex sections retrospectively by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method in 3580 cases. Out of total number of cases, 1000 who did not show any macroscopic intracranial pathology were carefully selected for research. Additionally, 0-1 age group was excluded from the study because the sulci develop in first year of postnatal life, excluding the possibility of considering these as anatomical variations. Thus, the total number of cases is decreased to 990. 16 variations related to localization of the superior frontal sulcus, precentral sulcus, central sulcus, postcentral sulcus and the marginal ramus of the cingulate sulcus were identified. The asymmetries of the sulci, the most variable sulci and the distribution of the variations according to sex were statistically analysed.

Height of normal pituitary gland on MRI: differences between age groups and sexes.

In this study, the coronal and sagittal heights of the pituitary glands were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in 201 individuals. There was no sellar or parasellar region pathology in the study group. The data were evaluated according to age and sex groups. In all cases the coronal and sagittal heights of the pituitary glands were equal. The mean values of the coronal and sagittal heights in females (6.1 +/- 0.1 mm, 6.1 +/- 0.1 mm respectively) were higher than in males (5.7 +/- 0.2 mm, 5.6 +/- 0.2 mm respectively). The highest values for the coronal and sagittal heights were in the 11-20 years age group in both sexes. A gradual increase in the coronal and sagittal heights of the pituitary glands in the 0-10, 11-20 age groups was present in both sexes. Decrease in the heights of the pituitary glands was noted after 20 years of age onwards. Nevertheless there was a conspicuous increase in the mean value of the pituitary glands' heights in the 51-60 years age group in males. In females, a minimal increase in the mean value of the pituitary glands' heights was observed in the 61 years and over age group.

Anatomic study of complex anomalies of the digastric muscle and review of the literature.

The digastric muscles of 99 cadavers were examined bilaterally. In 5 of them, the digastric muscles showed different types of complex abnormalities. These complex anomalies should be kept in mind in functional studies involving the floor of mouth and evaluating the same structures with CT and MR imaging. Secondly, the embryological basis of the isolated anomalies of the anterior digastric muscle with respect to its occurrence together with the mylohyoid muscle stressed in this article needs further studies of their development from the first branchial arch.

Accessory muscular bundles arising from biceps femoris muscle.

Two kinds of accessory muscle bundles arising from the long head of the biceps femoris muscle were encountered in a 20-year-old Turkish female cadaver during routine dissections. The one occurred on both sides, each arising from the lower portion of the long head of the muscle and passed deep to the fascia of the popliteal fossa to be inserted into the crural fascia. The other one which was observed only on the right side, arose from the upper portion of this head to be inserted into the semitendinosus muscle.

Morphometric analysis of the foot in adult Turkish men.

It is now well known that anthropometric measures of the foot differ in different communities. This research is a descriptive study to determine the foot measures collected from 1956 personnel working at a communication school. The results of this study are statistically different from the values of Paris system that is accepted by Turkish National Institute for Standardization (abbreviated as TSE). It is found that Turkish men's feet are shorter and wider as compared to the standards accepted by TSE.

Intrapancreatic course of the splenic artery with combined pancreatic anomalies.

In a 47-year-old male cadaver the splenic artery traveled partially through the substance of the pancreas. Additionally, the pancreas was apparently large and had an unusual shape; the neck of the organ could not be differentiated; the uncinate processus was absent; two pancreatic ducts were present. The probable reason for this combined anomaly was abnormal fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds due to different levels of origin.

Complex variation of the superficial palmar arch--case report.

This article describes a complex variation in the pattern of blood supply to the palm of the hand. In the present case; a) the superficial palmar branch of the radial a. coursed superficial to the thenar mm.; b) The princeps pollicis and radialis indicis aa. arose from the superficial palmar branch of the radial a.; c) The first and second common palmar digital aa. arose as a common trunk from the superficial palmar arch.

An accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle.

An accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle (M. flexor digitorum longus accessorius) in a 60-year-old male cadaver was encountered during routine dissections in our laboratory. The muscle originated from the deep transverse fascia of the leg, covering flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, and tibialis posterior muscles, and additionally from some fibres of these muscles. After the tendon of the muscle passed behind the medial malleolus, it inserted into the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus muscle where the latter separated into four digital tendons.

Morphology of the retromandibular vein in relation to the facial nerve in the parotid gland.

In order to help avoid complications of parotid surgery, we investigated the relationship between the facial nerve and the retromandibular vein. Fifty dissections were performed on 30 cadavers. In 45 (90%) of the cases the retromandibular vein was located on the medial side of the upper and lower trunks of the facial nerve, and in 5 (10%), the course of the retromandibular vein was lateral to the lower trunks and medial to the upper trunks. These variations were divided into subgroups. The most commonly encountered variation was that the retromandibular vein crossed the facial nerve from the medial (34 cases) or lateral side (3 cases) at a point between the bifurcation and ramification points of the lower facial trunk. In one case, the retromandibular vein was detected on the lateral side of the facial nerve at the bifurcation. In 3 cases (15%), the course of the retromandibular vein was different on the right and left sides of the face in the same cadaver.