Morphologia medica最新文献

The collagenous bundles of fibres in the lumbar interspinous spaces belong to different anatomical structures: the true interspinous ligaments, connecting two neighboured spinous processes in a postero-cranial direction, and fibres, lying in the dorso-caudal part, belonging to the thoracolumbar fascia (aponeurosis of the sacrospinal muscle). In the lumbo-sacral segment there are additional fibres arising from the dorsal part of the 5th lumbar spinous process and descending in a postero-caudal direction, interlacing with the thoracolumbar fascia. Superficial to the thoracolumbar fascia the fibres of the supraspinous ligament pass several spinous processes and form a longitudinal cord. Caudally the supraspinous ligament ends normally at the 4th lumbar spinous process. Below the caudal end of the supraspinous ligament the fibres of the thoracolumbar fascia cross to the opposite side and form a scissor-latticed structure. The interspinous ligaments limit the ventral-flexion of the lumbar spine; they can be extended in extreme retro-flexion, too. Downwards of L4 the fibre-texture of the thoracolumbar fascia permits a greater extent of ventral-flexion. In these segments the erector spinae muscle has to ensure the stability of the spine motion segments instead of a longitudinal ligamentous connection.

The description of knee joint cinematics is based on the exact analysis of condylar contours. In this paper, a function of second degree (elliptical equation) is proposed as an acceptable approximation to the solution of the problem. The contours of the femoral condyles can be looked at as composed of two different elliptical arches. These arches can be fitted with a high degree of accurateness. This method describes the condylar contour at least with the same approximation as the much more complicated calculation of STANISLAUS (1977) does. Furthermore the evolute of this curve does not show the extreme discontinuities of the evolute, determined by STANISLAUS.

A new method for measurements of pressure distributions and contact areas in joints. An innovative method is presented, allowing, for the first time, the exact determination of load-dependent pressure distributions and contact areas of joint surfaces in anatomical specimens. A thin flexible foil is inserted into the joint and adjust itself to curvatures. Upon loading, a monochromatic coloration occurs such that the optical density increases linearly with pressure. Using an electronic picture processor an analog representation of isobaric areas is obtained and evaluated, thereby integrating the areas of equal optical density. This procedure is considered to be superior to densitometric digital signal processing. For illustration, measurements of tibiofemoral-, patellafemoral- and ankle joints are shown, demonstrating the advantages and limitations of the new method.

After preganglionic parasympathetic block three histological and histochemical phases could be determined in the only cholinergically innervated mucous cells of the sublingual gland. The first phase is characterized by overproduction and oversecretion. Possibly this results from acetylcholine overproduction, caused by the block, termed as "degeneration secretion" however of preganglionic origin. Hypersensitivity of the gland parenchyma appears to be present also, which with catecholamins as well as acetylcholine cause the ensuing "paralytic secretion". At the end of the first phase the desquamation of parts of cells, and rarely entire cells, in form of apocrine and holocrine secretion occurs and a uniform cell population is developing. When this cell population develops the second phase starts. The lack of stimulation because of acetylcholine exhaustion is discussed as the cause of the second phase. In the third phase a self regulatory involution commences. In the double innervated serous submandibular gland the effect of chorda tympani section was less severe.

The Authors have examined the results of 14.703 colposcopic examinations performed at the Social Medicine Center of the Province of Florence between 1974 and 1978, grouping the women according to childbearing and age. The purpose was to verify if mechanical and traumatic factors related to delivery may be responsible for modifications of the epithelial lining of the uterine cervix and especially for ectopy. The Authors have shown that the percentage of incidence of colposcopic picture of portio with original squamous epithelium and ectopy maintain almost identical values in nulliparae and pluriparae. Delivery does not significantly influence the presence of ectopy: the slight increase of such a picture in pluriparae is attributed to the formation of "ektropion", and the Authors define this picture, clearly separating it from the ectopy picture. The presence of ectopy decreases considerably as the women's age increases: this is attributed to therapeutic treatments possibly undergone over the years and to the spontaneous mending processes which are completed with age. Ectopy and its typical transformation zones are found in high percentages in the age group of women under 20. This corresponds exactly to the percentages reported by a few Authors on the presence of jodonegative zones in newborns. On the basis of these results, the Authors conclude that delivery does not modify the condition of the uterine cervix and deny any relation between traumatic factors and "cervical erosion".

The importance of the plantar tensile systems of the foot are studied by the means of photoelasticity. In a plastic (VP 1527) model of the sagittal section of a foot skeleton the distribution of stressing under load has been visualized in photographs of the isochromes as seen in the polarized light. This examination has been carried out with and without tension in the long plantar tensile systems of the model. It has clearly been shown that by the influence of the tensile systems the resultant force for the forefoot runs approximately in the axis of the bony elements of the metatarsus. In absence of these plantar tensions on the contrary the metatarsal elements undergo considerable bending stresses.

In the rat the cranial part of the Muellerian duct (M-duct), i.e. the anlage of the uterine tube, is of dual origin. The different segments of the adult tube are already recognizable during embryogenesis and may be attributed to their original materials. The preampulla arises from the infundibular field of the coelomic epithelium (= MT). The isthmus is budding from the Wolffian duct (= MW). The middle segment of the tube, the ampulla, is organized by fusion of MT and MW. In the male rat embryo MW degenerates completely, whereas MT degenerates only partially. The remaining part of MT becomes to a solid structure close to the testis, namely the testicular appendage. In the rat testicular appendage is traceable until the first postnatal day.

The formation of stenosis following choledochotomy, common duct injury and repair can be observed frequently. A severe complication following a common duct repair, which can almost span a defect of about 3 cm, is the insufficient suture. An insufficient blood supply of the suture margins and a seam which is standing under tension are quoted as reasons for insufficient suture. The extra- and intramural distribution of arterial blood supply of the superior part of common bile duct is described. The results are based on preparations of 25 dissections and further 6 dissections following to another special arterial injection method. The "main-streets" of arterial blood supply of the common bile duct are described and hints are given to the surgeon, how to avoid stenosis or ischemic margins following anastomosis of the common duct.