Anatomical science international
-
Using Hiranuma's classification, we carefully examined anatomical variations in the first compartments of 246 human wrist joints from 124 cadavers. Morphological examinations were conducted to determine the number of accessory tendons and the existence of dissepiments for the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendons. Anatomical variations of EPBs and APLs were grouped together by type, and appearance ratios were calculated based on Hiranuma's classification. ⋯ Sixty-six of the 193 wrist joints (34.2%) showed equal numbers of right and left accessory tendons. However, the number of EPB accessory tendons was higher than in previous studies, and in all cases some kind of dissepiment was observed in the APL and EPB. The number of EPB and APL accessory tendons showed no clear differences by gender, age, or right and left specificity.
-
The Reelin (Reln)-deficient mouse (reeler) and the Dab1-deficient mouse (yotari) are autosomal recessive mutant mice characterized by cerebellar ataxia. Previously, we reported that Reelin and Dab1 proteins have slightly different functions during the development of the cerebral cortex. To analyze the functional roles of Reelin and Dab1 proteins in detail, we attempted to generate a reelin/Dab1 compound-mutant mouse by breeding heterozygote reeler and yotari mice. ⋯ CST neurons of the reelin/Dab1-compound mutant mice were not confined to layer V, but scattered throughout the motor cortex. This quantitative and statistical analysis shows that the distribution pattern of CST neurons of the reelin/Dab1-compound mutant mouse differs from those of either of the reeler or yotari counterparts. Taken together, although Reelin/Dab1 signal transduction is a primary cascade in neurons during developmental periods, other signaling cascades (e.g., the Cdk-5/Dab1 pathway) may lie in a parallel fashion to Reelin/Dab1 signal transduction.
-
The present report describes an anomalous case of the right vertebral artery arising as the last branch of the aortic arch identified in a 76-year-old Japanese male cadaver during dissection in the anatomical laboratory of Kanazawa Medical University. The aortic arch itself coursed normally but the right vertebral artery was uniquely situated at the fourth branch next to the brachiocephalic artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery. ⋯ The left vertebral artery was normal. The development of the right vertebral artery may be described as follows: (i) the distal portion of the right dorsal aorta, which usually disappears, persisted and became united, via post-costal longitudinal anastomosis; (ii) the right dorsal aorta between the seventh and eighth intersegmental arteries lost its connection to the main structure; and (iii) the fusion of the originally paired dorsal aorta extended around the 11th segment, which was two segments away from the normal portion of the structure.
-
Herein is reported a rare case of right persistent sciatic artery (PSA) in the cadaver of a 96-year-old woman who did not have any clinical manifestations related to this anomaly when alive. The anomalous PSA originated from the internal iliac artery, directed toward the infrapiriform foramen, and descended the dorsal side of the thigh. Approximately 20 mm inferior to the infrapiriform foramen, the PSA formed a relatively large aneurysm elongating for approximately 30 mm in length. ⋯ In addition, the popliteal vein gave rise to two branches, one ran along with the sciatic artery and the other pierced the adductor muscles, and appeared on the ventral side of the thigh. It then drained into the deep femoral vein, which reached the pelvis via the femoral vein. The present case is an interesting example for clinicians who work in pelvic surgery.
-
Reported herein is a rare case of multiple vascular anomalies involving the vertebral vessels and the bronchial artery. In the present case the vertebral artery, which normally originates from the subclavian artery, arose directly from the cranial side of the aortic arch, just between the left common carotid and subclavian artery. Furthermore, the bilateral entry of the vertebral artery deviated to the upper level of the transverse foramen of the cervical vertebrae (C5). ⋯ This phenotype is an additional branch of bronchial arteries, which in normal cases arises from the descending aorta. These two anomalies could be explained by the deviation of the anlage for the left subclavian artery. The present report should be of interest for the clinician with regard to vascular anomalies in the neck and thoracic region, and may give insight into elucidating the developmental mechanism of angiogenesis.