Anatomical Science International最新文献

The internal carotid artery (ICA) is a crucial vessel, and its congenital absence, known as ICA agenesis, is a rare vascular anomaly. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence on this condition. We systematically searched multiple databases from inception until January 2024. Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts, and a third reviewer was involved if consensus could not be reached. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using validated the AQUA tool and the JBI critical appraisal checklist tool. A total of 138 (7.8%) articles out of 1,778 met the inclusion criteria, reporting 2040 subjects from which 176 presented (8.6%) ICA agenesis. Most of the studies were case reports (96%), and the included studies originated from various countries, with the United States (17.39%), Japan (14.49%), Turkey (10.87%), and India (10.14%) contributing the most. Left-sided agenesis was the most common (67.39%), followed by right-sided (42.03%) and bilateral (22.46%) agenesis. The most reported clinical manifestations were Horner's syndrome, increased risk of intracranial aneurysms, and pituitary gland abnormalities. ICA agenesis is a rare vascular anomaly with a left-sided predominance. While some patients may develop associated clinical conditions, many remain asymptomatic due to the development of robust collateral circulation. Comprehensive preoperative evaluation and awareness of these anatomical variations are crucial to guide surgical planning and minimize the risk of complications. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024592673.

Supernumerary renal arteries are frequently observed, but their developmental origin remains controversial. One hypothesis, the ladder theory, ascribed origins of multiple renal arteries to a segmental array of mesonephric arteries. However, recent studies in both rodents and humans demonstrated evidence against this theory. We describe a rare variation in a Japanese female cadaver exhibiting seven renal arteries encountered during student dissection practice in 2023. On the right side, the main renal artery branched off from the aorta 29 mm below the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. Three additional renal arteries branched off at the level of or below the inferior mesenteric artery. On the left side, two renal arteries branched off at usual high positions, but another branch below the inferior mesenteric artery. In 43 cadavers dissected in 2023, all renal arteries including duplicate type, but except for the present case, arose at high positions near the superior mesenteric artery. Incidence of connection between multiple renal arteries and adrenal and/or gonadal arteries was 78.6% (11 out of 14 kidneys). Importantly, all these connections were observed at high-positioned branches. Combining present results with previous data in literatures revealed the close relationship between high-positional branching and connections with adrenal/gonadal arteries (p = 0.0056), suggesting two factors influencing renal artery development: (1) prenatal, interconnected arteries at high positions, and (2) low-positioned individual branches arising from the aorta during kidney ascent with poor interconnectivity. Arteries involved in these two events might regress with various degrees, leading to diversity in number and connectivity of renal arteries.

This study aimed to investigate the detailed anatomy of the renal arteries through magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), offering an alternative to conventional imaging techniques. By identifying the variations, spatial orientation, and vertebral origin of the renal arteries, the study seeks to provide comprehensive anatomical data that may support surgeons and interventional radiologists in clinical planning and decision-making. Magnetic resonance angiography images of 196 individuals who underwent abdominal imaging were retrospectively retrieved from the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). The analysis focused on the vertebral level of renal artery origin, angle of emergence, distances from major abdominal aortic branches, and renal artery branching patterns. These parameters were statistically assessed based on age and sex using SPSS 25. In male individuals, the distances between the renal arteries and both the inferior mesenteric artery and the aortic bifurcation were significantly greater than in females (p < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between age and the coronal angle of the left renal artery in both sexes and in the overall group (p = 0.001). The most frequent origin point of the right renal artery was identified at the mid-level between the L1 and L2 vertebrae, whereas the left renal artery commonly originated at the upper level of L2 in both sexes. The anatomical parameters defined by age and sex in this study may improve diagnostic accuracy for clinicians. These findings can aid interventional radiologists in catheter selection and procedure planning, supporting more personalized and effective interventions.

Understanding the variation of the location of the mental foramen in the mandible will aid in the prevention of injury to associated structures during invasive procedures in the mental area. This study was carried out using 228 mental foramina in 114 dry mandibles belonging to the adult Sri Lankan population of the southern region of Sri Lanka to determine the shape, size, direction, existence of accessory foramina, and location with respect to anatomical landmarks. A single mental foramen was the most common in Sri Lankan adults, and 7% of them had accessory mental foramen on either side. The most common characteristic of the mental foramen was an oval shape, located below the 2nd premolar tooth in the posterior-superior direction. The mean distance from the mandibular midline to the mental foramen was 25.98 ± 1.9 mm and 25.64 ± 2.02 mm on the right and left sides, respectively. This study offers substantial data about possible variations in physical characteristics and the location of the mental foramen in a population in the southern region of Sri Lanka. Hence, it is possible to use the relative position of teeth or distances from various borders of the mandible to precisely locate the mental foramen. Therefore, this information is crucial for clinicians, who must be aware of these variances and the necessity of determining the precise location of the mental foramen before doing surgery in this region.