Anatomy & Cell Biology最新文献

The thoracic cage, formed by ribs and sternum, protects vital organs while enabling respiration. This review examines anatomical variations in rib-sternum attachments and their clinical significance through analysis of literature from 1993-2023. Variations, including bifid ribs (0.15%-3.4% prevalence) and cervical ribs (0.05%-3.0%), can lead to conditions like slipping rib syndrome (SRS). An extensive search of PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and specialized collections identified 17 comprehensive SRS case reports. Two independent reviewers evaluated these cases, revealing that rib-sternum morphological variations significantly impact respiratory biomechanics, with unstable costal cartilage identified as a primary cause of pain syndromes. These findings highlight the critical importance of recognizing aberrant rib-sternum anatomy for patient safety, particularly in thoracic procedures. Advanced imaging technologies have enhanced detection capabilities, allowing for improved surgical planning and patient management. This review underscores the value of both cadaveric and radiological examination in identifying these variations, and recommends further research to clarify their prevalence, functional implications, and clinical correlations to optimize treatment approaches and outcomes.

The current computed tomography angiography (CTA) study aimed to investigate the vertebrobasilar system (VBS) intracranial segment variant morphological anatomy and morphometry. Two hundred CTAs of 142 male and 58 female patients (with a mean age of 62.85±14.08) were retrospectively evaluated. Four hundred vertebral arteries (VAs) and 200 basilar arteries (BAs) were studied. In the V3 segment, the vessel's high riding course was identified in 10.8%. An arcuate foramen (AF) was identified surrounding the V3 segment in 12.0%. When AF was present, the V3 diameter was statistically significantly narrower (P<0.001). The V4 segment was hypoplastic in 11.0% and fenestrated in one case (0.3%). The posterior inferior cerebellar artery typically originated from the V4 segment in 76.5%. On the BA morphology, we classified the vessel according to its inclination. The most common type was the J-shaped (55.5% of cases). The BA inclination was positively correlated with the vessel's length (P=0.002). The VBS intracranial segment was systematically investigated. Knowledge of the VBS typical and variant anatomy is essential for anatomists, radiologists, and clinicians. The most important findings was the following: (1) the AF presence significantly narrowed the VA diameter, which could lead to the vessel's compression, (2) the BA linear length (bending or inclination) positively correlated with the BA length, and (3) the V4 length was positively correlated with its diameter.

Craniofacial development relies on proper growth and fusion during embryogenesis of initially distinct collections of mesenchyme derived from the cranial neural crest, covered by an epithelial lining of ectodermal origin. Fusion between these facial primordia implicates formation of an epithelial seam resulting from adherence and fusion between lining epithelia, and its subsequent removal to generate mesenchymal continuity. These embryonic processes involve a complex array of morphogenetic events requiring coordinated cell migration, survival, proliferation, death, patterning, adhesion, and differentiation, involving both the mesenchymal core and the primitive epithelial covering. Perturbation of any of these developmental events can lead to orofacial cleft phenotypes. Cleft lip and cleft palate are the most common congenital head deformities and, in general, among the commonest inborn defects. Indeed, due to the complexity of lip and palate development, the possibility of errors is a real event, therefore their relatively elevate frequency is not surprising. Understanding the pathogenesis of these malformations requires a thorough knowledge of the biological mechanisms underlying normal craniofacial embryogenesis and how they can be disturbed during development. An important contribution to our understanding of the fusion processes occurring in the orofacial district has come from studies on the role of the periderm in the adhesion between embryonic structures. This review summarises the normal morphogenesis of the upper lip/primary palate and secondary palate, as well as the mechanisms of aberrant development leading to cleft lip and palate, with particular attention to the role of the periderm, and cellular and molecular aspects of developmental pathogenesis.

Typically, a kidney gets its arterial supply from a single renal artery, and the testicular arteries originate from the anterolateral surface of the abdominal aorta. The present case describes a variation in the origin of the testicular artery, which originates from a right accessory renal artery. We observed two renal arteries with the inferior vena cava sandwiched in between. The testicular artery originates from the inferior margin of the accessory renal artery, coursing down alongside the testicular vein into the right testis. During cephalic migration in embryogenesis, the conjunction of the ascending kidney and the descending testis is considered an important factor contributing to variations in the number and location of the vasculature in the kidneys or the gonads. An elaborate description of these variations is clinically significant for surgical interventions, renal transplants, renal and testicular imaging, and pathology.

The profunda femoris artery (PFA) originates from the femoral artery, supplying crucial blood flow to thigh muscles, hip joint, and femur. We report a rare unilateral anatomical variation involving an accessory profunda femoris artery (APFA) originating 0.5 cm from the mid-inguinal point (MIP) and a main PFA arising 3.6 cm from the MIP. The APFA supplies the pectineus, adductor longus, and adductor magnus muscles, and gives off the superficial circumflex iliac artery. The main PFA gives rise to circumflex and perforating branches. This variation highlights the complexity of human anatomy and has significant clinical implications, particularly in vascular surgery, plastic surgery, and interventional radiology. Understanding anatomical variations, such as dual PFAs, is crucial for preventing complications during vascular procedures like catheterization and SCIP flap reconstruction. Preoperative assessment and intraoperative adaptability are essential to mitigate risks of arterial injury, dissection, or inadequate perfusion.

We present a rare anatomical variation of the deep femoral vein (DFV) originating from the popliteal vein (PV) with an associated aneurysm. The DFV arose from the PV at the adductor hiatus, exhibited an aneurysm, and coursed upward through the fourth osseo-aponeurotic opening of the adductor magnus muscle to enter the anterior thigh compartment before draining into the femoral vein. This unique variation likely resulted from developmental deviations during intrauterine life. The anomalous origin and aneurysm of the DFV may potentially cause venous hemodynamic disturbances, chronic venous insufficiency, increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, and potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Anatomical variations of the DFV in terms of origin, course, or termination are rare but clinically relevant, especially in the context of vascular surgeries, imaging, and interventional procedures involving the femoral region. This case highlights the importance of recognizing venous anatomical variations and their clinical implications.

Various information technologies have been introduced for anatomy education in the current digital era, including three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality, mobile augmented reality, and 3D printing. While these technologies enhance educational effectiveness, their high cost often restricts their accessibility. Conversely, low-cost methods using everyday items have proven effective in anatomy education. The anatomical sign language (ASL) method has been introduced, and uses the fingers, hands, and arms to represent anatomical structures to leverage muscle memory to aid the retention and understanding of complex anatomical structures and provide a comprehensive and interactive approach to anatomy education. This study was performed to expand ASL to include the expressive capabilities of the upper and lower extremities, and the face and brain. The results indicate that ASL effectively illustrates the anatomy of various structures. The educational benefits of ASL for anatomy and radiologic anatomy education are discussed.

Knowledge of variations of the testicular vessels is essential for urologists, radiologists, and surgeons in general, as iatrogenic injuries of these vessels may affect the spermatogenesis severely. Though variations of testicular vessels are common, combined variations of these vessels are rare. We observed concurrent variations of left testicular vessels in an adult cadaver aged 70 years. There were two gonadal arteries on the left side, both of which arose from the abdominal aorta. The superior one among them hooked around the left renal vein and the left suprarenal veins. There were three testicular veins at the deep inguinal ring, but they formed a plexus of veins at the posterior abdominal wall, which reduced into two veins. These two testicular veins terminated into the left renal vein independently. The deep inguinal ring was congested with the presence of five vessels. This variation could increase the possibility of varicocele.

Fascaplysin is a bioactive compound derived from marine sponges, which have anticancer properties and potential neuroprotective effects mediated by mitigation of oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity. This study investigated the concentration-dependent effects of fascaplysin in zebrafish models, focusing on embryonic survival, cardiac function, melanocyte formation, and peripheral nerve health. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to fascaplysin at concentrations ranging from 10 nM to 100 μM, and developmental parameters were assessed. At higher concentrations (≥1 μM), fascaplysin significantly decreased embryo survival rates, delayed hatching, impaired cardiac function, and caused morphological abnormalities, including disruption of melanocyte formation and structural deformities. By contrast, lower concentrations (10 nM and 100 nM) did not exhibit significant toxicity. In adult zebrafish, fascaplysin at 100 nM reduced the expression of superoxide-producing enzymes and preserved peripheral nerve integrity following injury, as demonstrated by maintenance of fluorescence in transgenic zebrafish with expression of green fluorescent protein in Schwann cells. These findings suggest that fascaplysin exhibits peripheral neuroprotective effects at low concentrations, potentially through the reduction of oxidative stress and preservation of Schwann cell function. However, the toxicity observed at higher concentrations highlights the importance of dose optimization. Fascaplysin is a promising candidate for the development of new therapeutic strategies for peripheral neuropathies, and further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and validate its efficacy in mammalian models.