Anatomy & Cell Biology最新文献

The article reports on an investigation into the dimensions and shape variability of the atrioventricular and interventricular components of the membranous septum in human fetal hearts at 17-28 weeks. Using stereomicroscope with digital camera and software, we studied 80 normal specimens. In the 17-28 weeks group, the membranous septum length was 1.6±0.78 mm. The atrioventricular component was present in 86.25% of cases, while the interventricular component was present in 73.75% of cases. The length of the atrioventricular component was 0.9 mm at 17-19 weeks, and 1.2 mm at 26-28 weeks. The atrioventricular height increased from 0.75 mm at 17-19 weeks to 1.53 mm at 26-28 weeks. The interventricular component had equal median lengths of 0.57-0.60 mm in the 20-28 weeks group. Its height at 17-22 weeks was 0.75 mm, reaching 1.0 mm at 20-22 weeks, and increasing by no more than 10% in older groups. There were no correlations between atrioventricular or interventricular length and height that indicated great variability of the components in shape. For the atrioventricular component, common shapes were round, oval, and triangular. The interventricular component was mostly round or vertically oval; in some cases, it appeared as a horizontal oval or a vertical slit. The data may be useful for intracardiac fetal surgery, for example, in correction of hypoplastic aortic root and closure of interventricular communication, as well as for connective tissue three-dimensional bioprinting in cardiac abnormalities.

The sural nerve (SN) is a sensory nerve in the lower limb with notable variability in its origin, course, and branching patterns. This variability has important implications for diagnostic procedures, nerve grafting, and surgical planning, yet it remains underexplored in Southern African populations. This cadaveric study examined 90 lower limbs from 45 embalmed adult human cadavers (24 males, 21 females) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Each specimen was assessed for SN formation type, anatomical location, and morphometric data, including its contributing branches (medial sural cutaneous nerve [MSCN] and lateral sural cutaneous nerve [LSCN]). Measurements were recorded, and bilateral symmetry and sex-based differences were analyzed. Four SN formation types were identified, with Type 1 (union of MSCN and LSCN) being most common (62.2%). Formation most frequently occurred in the middle third of the leg (38.9%), although distribution across the middle, lower, and ankle levels was more evenly spread than in other populations. Bilateral symmetry in SN formation was seen in only 40% of cadavers. The average SN length was 100.1 mm and the mean distance from the lateral malleolus was 27.2 mm. This study confirms high anatomical variability of the SN among South African cadavers, and understanding such variation is crucial for clinicians performing nerve grafting or procedures in the distal leg. These findings may enhance surgical planning and education by emphasizing region-specific anatomical variation.

Bilateral hypoplastic facial arteries terminating as submental arteries were identified on computed tomography angiography, accompanied by rare compensatory vascular patterns. The right maxillary artery exhibited a triangular fenestration between the maxillary tuberosity and inferior orbital fissure, from which an aberrant buccal artery arose and descended to supply the inferior lip. The left side demonstrated a common buccoalveolar trunk bifurcating into the inferior alveolar artery and an aberrant buccal artery with a previously unreported transmandibular trajectory, entering at the lingula and exiting through a retromolar foramen before continuing tortuously to vascularize the cheek and lower lip. These anatomical variants present significant surgical hazards during regional anesthesia procedures targeting the maxillary tuberosity, pterygomandibular space, and mandibular lingula, as well as during facial reconstructive surgery. Comprehensive preoperative angiographic evaluation is essential when facial artery hypoplasia is encountered to identify compensatory networks and prevent inadvertent vascular injury.

Histology is an essential, yet difficult, subject to study in medicine. As artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving with ever-growing image recognition abilities, it presents a great potential to be used in the study of histology. This research aimed to assess the ability of ChatGPT 4o and Google Gemini 2.0 Flash to recognize various histological sections of different tissues and organs from images. The two AI models were presented with high-resolution histological images and prompted with tasks to identify basic tissue types, specific organs, and specific structures indicated by arrows. Scores were given for correct identifications. The test was conducted twice without any training or feedback to assess consistency. McNemar test and Kappa coefficient were used to compare the responses. Both AI models had good image recognition abilities with varying performances. Overall, Google Gemini achieved higher correct scores across both tests (75% and 77.5%, compared to 65% and 65% for ChatGPT). McNemar showed a significant difference between the two models with only fair agreement shown by kappa. No significant difference was found between the repeated tests. Performance across different tissue types varied. Muscular tissue was the easiest to identify and epithelial tissue was the most difficult. AI may have a promising role in histology. Students and histologist can use AI, especially Gemini, to identify histological sections from images. Critical judgment, however, must be utilized as AI can make mistakes.

The fundiform ligament and penile suspensory ligament (PSL) are essential for maintaining prepubic curvature and stabilizing erections. PSL dissection is a key step in penile lengthening surgery for micropenis; however, the precise origin and insertion of the fundiform ligament, as well as the insertion of the PSL, remain subjects to debate. In this study, 34 embalmed male cadavers without pathology or prior pelvic or perineal surgery were dissected layer by layer from the lower abdominal wall to the penile base. The fundiform and PSL were identified, and their origin, insertion, morphology, length, and vascular associations were documented. Four distinct shapes of the fundiform ligament were identified: double, triangular, Y-shaped, and irregular type, with the double type being most common. The majority originated from the linea alba, while some arose from Scarpa's fascia or both, inserting distally into the superficial penile fascia. The external pudendal artery was observed near its insertion in 56% of cases. The PSL consistently exhibited a triangular configuration, with an average depth of 27.4±5.7 mm along the pubic symphysis. The angle between the pubic margin and penile shaft margin measured 58.6°±9.7°. The deep dorsal vein of the penis was identified at the deep margin of the PSL in 53% of specimens. These findings provide detailed anatomical insights into the penile suspensory apparatus, highlighting structural variations, origins, and relationships with adjacent vascular structures. Further surgical validation is required to establish their clinical implications in penile lengthening procedures.

Placing an implant between the mental foramina can cause nerve paralysis and subcutaneous bleeding from the floor of the mouth. In this study, we performed macroscopic anatomical measurements of the anterior loop of the mandibular canal and three-dimensional observations of the anterior loop, mandibular incisive canal, and lingual foramen using dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to understand the morphology of the anatomical structures between the mental foramina. The specimens comprised 13 donated bodies. After CBCT imaging, the cortical bone anterior to the mental foramen was removed to isolate the anterior loop. After taking a picture, the anterior loop was measured using the image data. Additionally, a three-dimensional reconstruction of the CBCT images was performed to observe the anatomical structures between the mental foramina. The vertical distance from the superior margin of the mental foramen to inferior border of the mandibular canal was 7.34 mm and that from the inferior border of the mandibular canal to inferior border of the mandible was 8.90 mm. The anteroposterior distance from the anterior margin of the mental foramen to the anterior border of the loop was 3.42 mm. No significant differences were found in any of the measurements between male and female. In segmented CBCT images of the interforaminal region, the mandibular incisive canal could be observed and the lingual foramen was also observed in the cortical bone. To prevent complications, paying close attention to the anterior loop, mandibular incisive canal, and lingual foramen when placing an implant between the mental foramina is necessary.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and limited therapeutic options. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to tumor heterogeneity, therapy resistance, and recurrence through activation of developmental pathways such as Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch, JAK-STAT, and Hippo. Identifying CSCs is therefore essential for understanding pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) pathogenesis and advancing targeted therapies. This study compares the expression of key CSC-associated markers (CD44, CD117, OCT3/4, and c-Myc) in PDAC, fetal, and adult pancreas to elucidate CSC dynamics. Immunohistochemistry for CSC markers (CD44, CD117, OCT3/4, and c-Myc) was performed on PDAC tissues and control pancreatic samples (fetal pancreas 28-36 weeks and adult pancreas) to evaluate marker expression. Proliferative potential was assessed using CK7 and Ki-67 expression patterns. CD44 showed strong membranous and cytoplasmic expression in PDAC, moderate in fetal pancreas (epithelial/ductal regions), and minimal expression in adult tissue. CD117 was mainly restricted to stromal cells in PDAC, also present in fetal tissue but low in adults. c-Myc and Ki-67 were moderately expressed in PDAC, significantly higher than the control samples. CK7 demonstrated strong cytoplasmic staining in PDAC, moderate expression in adults, and weak expression in fetal samples. CD44 and c-Myc re-expression in PDAC supports their role as CSC-associated markers and potential drivers of tumor progression. CD117's stromal localization suggests tumor-stroma interactions. These findings highlight developmental reactivation of CSC markers in PDAC, with implications for early detection and targeted therapy.

The classical arrangement of renal hilar structures in popular anatomy texts is described as: renal vein, renal artery, and renal pelvis arranged from anterior to posterior. Variations in this arrangement frustrate the vascular surgeon while creating splenorenal anastomoses and performing segmental nephrectomies. The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy in conjunction with the Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi on 100 renal blocks in the period of 3 years (2019-2022). Course of renal arteries was classified in the following types: straight ascending, straight descending, straight horizontal, sinuous, tortuous, upward curved, and downward curved. Distance from superior mesenteric artery for left renal artery was 0.83±1.05 cm while it was 0.90±1.11 cm for right renal artery. Length of left renal artery was 2.85±1.29 cm, and right renal artery was 3.70±1.34 cm. The length of right renal artery was longer than left renal artery (P<0.001). Multiple arteries were seen in 24.5% of cases. Renal arteries commonly arose from lateral surface of aorta in 88.93% and from anterior surface in 11.07%. Most common course taken by either of the renal artery was straight horizontal (40.48% left, 33.59% right) followed by straight descending (33.33% left, 31.35% right). Hilar renal artery was the most common type observed (95.24% left and 93.75% right). On an average renal artery on either side gave three branches.

A median accessory anterior digastric muscle was identified during a routine dissection of the submental triangle in an embalmed 86-year-old Caucasian female cadaver. The muscle had a digastric and a mylohyoid variant. The digastric variant was triquetral, symmetrical, with a mandibular apex attachment at the symphysis between the digastric fossae and two base attachments at the right and left intermediate tendons, approximately 3 mm apart. A midline raphe connected the base fibers, extending cranially toward the apex. The mylohyoid variant presented as two thin muscle strands originating from the cranial mylohyoid near the raphe, and inserting into the intermediate tendons, parallel to the mylohyoid nerve's path. No enlarged lymph nodes were noted. This accessory muscle, a potential landmark in neck surgeries, may be mistaken for the digastric, risking incomplete tissue resection. This report describes its anatomy to guide surgeons in neck dissections.

Gonadal arteries (GAs) and gonadal veins (GVs) display substantial anatomical variation, which has direct implications for surgical procedures, radiological interpretation, and fertility management. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence, origin, course, and drainage patterns of gonadal vessels in human anatomy. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in line with current Evidence-Based Anatomy and PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search of major databases and anatomical journals yielded 31 eligible studies, comprising data on 2,875 gonadal vessels. The typical GA anatomy (single artery arising from the abdominal aorta) was observed in 98.72% of cases. Accessory GAs were found in 1.12%, most commonly arising from the renal artery (5.52%), with rare origins (<0.01%) from the accessory renal or suprarenal arteries. A normal arterial course was present in 90.24%, while an arched course occurred in 9.76%. The typical GV pattern (single vein draining into the inferior vena cava [IVC] or renal vein) was seen in 94.97%, and accessory GVs in 5.03%. The right GV drained into the IVC in 96.51%, with aberrant drainage to the right renal vein in 4.41%. The left GV drained into the left renal vein in 95.35%, with aberrant IVC drainage in 4.17%. Although the typical gonadal vascular anatomy predominates, variants, especially in GA origin and GV drainage, are not rare and must be recognized. These findings underscore the clinical importance of anatomical awareness in surgical planning, radiological evaluation, and the management of urological and reproductive conditions.