Folia morphologica最新文献

The lymphatic system is composed of lymphoid organs/tissues and a complex network of lymphatic vessels that transport interstitial fluid, antigens, lipids, immune cells, and other materials in the body. There is growing evidence that lymphatic vasculature is associated with many pathological conditions such as lymphoedema and cancer progression and metastasis. Thus, improved understanding of the anatomical features, the molecular profile, and the function of the lymphatic vasculature may provide innovative approaches for disease prevention and treatment. This article aims to present a comprehensive review of the gastric lymphatic anatomy and its importance in the pathology, treatment, and prognosis of gastric carcinomas.

Background: That the peroneus tertius muscle (PT) is a separate entity has been long debated. PT has been variously reported to be part of the extensor digitorum longus muscle, part of the extensor digitorum brevis, or a separate muscle. While pigs have a PT as well as primates, there are no reports of its association with the extensor digitorum longus muscle or extensor digitorum brevis.

Materials and methods: In this study, we used gross dissection and Sihler's staining to determine the origin, course, insertion, and innervation of the pig PT.

Results: The PT and extensor digitorum longus muscles jointly originated from the femur and ran between the tibialis cranialis and peroneus longus muscles. The PT was inserted at the retinaculum of the metatarsal extensors, tarsal bone, and second metatarsal bone. The branches of the common fibular nerve to the extensor digitorum longus muscle were distributed to the PT.

Conclusions: The innervations suggest that the PT and extensor digitorum longus muscles of the pig were derived from the same muscle mass during development, but were named separately due to differences in their morphology. Furthermore, morphological features suggest that pig PT and human PT are probably different muscles.

The lateral ankle joint is composed of 3 ligaments: the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). The ATFL and CFL demonstrate morphological variation, especially regarding their shape and number of bands. During standard anatomical dissection, an unusual type of triple CFL was observed: the CFL was composed of 2 bands originating on the lateral malleolus, and the presence of a lateral talocalcaneal ligament (LTC) originating on the talus bone. The insertion point of each band was located on the calcaneal bone. An understanding of these anatomical patterns allows a clearer view of ankle joint biomechanics, and improved planning and performance of surgical treatment.

This Letter to the Editor correlates with the article: Kowalczyk A, Topuzov N. Three in one - unusual palmaris longus muscle anatomical variation. Folia Morphol. 2024; 84(4): 925-929, doi: 10.5603/fm.98076, indexed in Pubmed: 38757504.

Background: As it is known, the anatomy of the vessels is examined by removing the cast of the vessels inside the organs. Generally, liquid material (polyester, takilon, etc.) is injected into the vessels with positive pressure to remove the cast from the vessels of the organs. We built a machine to remove the cast of the vessels inside the organ. We named it corrosion machine.

Materials and methods: Sheep kidneys were used in our experiment. After the kidneys were cannulated, they were placed in the vacuum chamber. With the operation of the vacuum pump, negative pressure was created in the vacuum chamber. With negative pressure, kidneys and its vessels expanded. Takilon or polyester easily entered the vessels of the kidney. The cast of the vessels of the kidney was removed. With this newly developed technique, the anatomy of the vessels whose casts were removed was examined with the naked eye, stereomicroscope or SEM.

Results: The corrosion machine we built can cast the vessels of the organs very well. Takilon or polyester (which we used in our experiment) easily entered the capillaries under the effect of negative pressure.

Conclusions: We think that this method can also be applied to other organs and used in vascular research.

Background: The azygos vein (AV) plays a crucial role in the mediastinal region, exhibiting considerable variability in its anatomy and relationship with surrounding structures. This study aims to assess the morphometry and anatomy of the AV through a comprehensive meta-analysis of studies reporting extractable data on this vessel.

Materials and methods: Major online medical databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO, BIOSIS, Current Content Connect, Korean Journal Database, and Wiley Online Library were searched to gather all relevant studies regarding the anatomical characteristics of the AV.

Results: The results of the present meta-analysis comprised 40 studies, categorised into 8 groups for data analysis. The mean AV diameter at its origin was set at 3.86 mm (SE = 0.84). The most prevalent was type IIB, with a prevalence of 40.23% (95% CI: 29.06-51.92%). The pooled prevalence of the right subcostal and right ascending lumbar veins forming the AV was 73.82% (95% CI: 55.77-88.67%).

Conclusions: The AV exhibits a high degree of variability regarding its origin, trajectory, and connections with the hemiazygos system. The most prevalent type of AV, according to the Anson and McVay classification [4], was Type II (transitional type). Moreover, the vein was found to be formed by the right subcostal and the right ascending lumbar veins in most of the cases. This is the most comprehensive and current assessment of AV morphometry and anatomy to date. The findings are a valuable resource for physicians, especially surgeons performing various procedures in the mediastinum.

Anatomical anomalies of neck muscles are rarely observed, and usually comprise variations of digastric and omohyoid muscles. Neck muscle abnormalities are sometimes correlated with embryological development and are observed in individuals with aneuploidies such as Edwards' syndrome (18-trisomy) or Down's syndrome (21-trisomy). Some infrahyoid muscles are important landmarks during surgery, and therefore the anatomical variations of these muscles are related to a higher risk of surgical complications. Below, we present a rare case of infrahyoid muscle anomalies found during routine dissection of a male cadaver. Redundant muscle bellies of sternohyoid muscle (sternohyoid azygos muscle), the presence of levator glandulae thyroideae and also one hypoplastic superior belly of the omohyoid muscle were observed. The presence of muscle fibres within the found structures was confirmed using Masson's trichrome staining method.

Background: The optic disc-foveal distance is very important because it is an anatomical measure of the fundus. As this distance increases and the fundus tensions, there can be variability in retinal and choroidal thickness. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between optic disc-foveal distance and choroidal and retinal nerve fibre thickness in healthy subjects.

Materials and methods: 72 people aged 20-36 participated in the study. Optic disc-foveal distance was measured with a fundus camera and choroidal and retinal nerve fibre thicknesses were measured with an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device. Littmann's formula as modified by Bennett (t = p × q × s) was applied to correct the magnification at the fundus camera imaging stage.

Results: The thicknesses of the nasal choroid (p = 0.005; p = 0.006), subfoveal choroid (p = 0.004; p < 0.001), and temporal choroid (p = 0.001; p = 0.001) layers decreased as the optic disc-to-foveal distance (DFD) increased in both the right and the left eye of study participants, which was statistically significant. In addition, we observed that the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) increased as the DFD distance increased, but this was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the optic disc-foveal distance, an anatomical measure of the fundus, does not affect RNFL in healthy subjects, whereas choroidal thickness does.

Background: Nutrient foramen (NF) is a hole in the long bones that allows the passage of the nutrient artery. The vasculature of the bone is very important for fracture healing and vascularised bone grafting. Therefore, information about the location and number of NFs is important for surgical and clinical practice. The clavicle is the most commonly fractured bone. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the location and number of NFs on the clavicle and other clavicle parameters.

Materials and methods: This study was performed on 86 dry clavicles of contemporary adult individuals without age and gender records. Some clavicle parameters and NF parameters were measured and the relationship between them was analysed. Measurements were performed using a digital caliper.

Results: Most of the clavicles had a single NF. There was a positive correlation between DFant/DFpost (distance between NF and anterior border/distance between NF and posterior border) and vertical thickness of sternal end (VTs), vertical thickness of thinnest point (VTt) and clavicular thinnest point index (CIt) in all cases (p < 0.05). Sagittal thickness of acromial end (STa), vertical thickness of clavicle (VTc), sagittal thickness of clavicle (STc), and sagittal thickness of thinnest point (STt) were associated with NF counts. The most common localisation of NFs was type 2. The NFs were mostly located in the inferior position.

Conclusions: Relationships between the number and morphometric characteristics of NFs and some clavicle parameters were determined. We suggest that knowledge of the number and morphometric characteristics of NFs is important for the protection of the nutrient artery in orthopaedic surgery applications.

Introduction: Age-specific reference intervals for the extensor digiti minimi muscle (EDMM) in the human fetus may be relevant in the detailed evaluation of the musculoskeletal systems, with potentially relevant implications for surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to examine the age-specific reference intervals and growth dynamics of the EDMM in relation to its length, width, projection surface area, and volume.

Materials and methods: The examined material included 70 human formalin-fixed fetuses of both sexes (37♀, 33♂) aged from 17 to 29 weeks. Using anatomical dissection, each EDMM was visualized, recorded in JPG formats, and analysed by the digital image analysis system and statistical methods.

Results: No variability of the EDMM was found. All the morphometric parameters of the EDMM revealed neither sex nor laterality differences. With fetal age most linear parameters of the EDMM concerning its examined lengths and widths increased in accordance with natural logarithmic functions. The only two exceptions to this referred to the belly width of the EDMM measured at its mid-length and the tendon width of the EDMM measured proximal to the extensor retinaculum of the wrist, which both followed square root functions. The projection surface areas of the EDMM followed natural logarithmic functions, while the volumetric growth of the EDMM was proportionate to fetal age.

Conclusions: The variability of the EDMM in the human fetus is minimal. The morphometric data of the EDMM represents age-specific reference intervals of clinical significance. Morphometric parameters of the EDMM reveal neither sex nor laterality differences. The EDMM displays three different growth dynamics: gradual growth deceleration according to both natural logarithmic functions (total length of the muscle and its tendons, belly length, tendon lengths, belly width at its origin, tendon width at its insertion, and projection surface areas) and square root functions (belly width at its mid-length and tendon width in the pre-retinacular segment), and proportionate growth (total volume).