{"title":"Cadaveric revelation of medial cutaneous nerve of the arm traversing the axillary vein.","authors":"Punnapa Raviteja, Mrudula Chandrupatla, Rohini Motwani","doi":"10.5115/acb.25.142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.25.142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A rare unilateral anatomical variation was observed in the left arm of a 62-year-old female cadaver. The medial cutaneous nerve of the arm pierced the axillary vein, arising from the medial cord of the brachial plexus and coursing posterior to the axillary artery. The nerve traversed the vein over a short segment, entering at approximately 6.5 cm and exiting at approximately 7.5 cm from the coracoid process. This unusual relationship has significant clinical implications in medical procedures, particularly in axillary venous access. Failure to recognize these alterations during axillary lymph node dissections or brachial plexus procedures increases the probability of iatrogenic nerve damage or venous trauma. This case highlights the importance of preoperative imaging and vigilant dissection techniques to accommodate anatomical variability, ultimately enhancing procedural safety and patient outcomes. Recognizing such variations is crucial to prevent sensory deficits, chronic neuropathic pain, and other complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144688687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kotoko Imai, Kei Kitamura, Ryo Sekiya, Kazuma Morita, Sakiko Takahashi, Gen Murakami, Jose Francisco Rodríguez-Vázquez, Shinichi Abe
{"title":"Junction between membranous and endochondral bones in the developing occipital squamosa.","authors":"Kotoko Imai, Kei Kitamura, Ryo Sekiya, Kazuma Morita, Sakiko Takahashi, Gen Murakami, Jose Francisco Rodríguez-Vázquez, Shinichi Abe","doi":"10.5115/acb.25.095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.25.095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The occipital bone squamosa (OCS) is unique because of its double origin from both endochondral and membranous bones. The present study attempted to demonstrate the process of connection between these two bone types. We examined sagittal and frontal histological sections from 29 human fetuses with a crown-rump length ranging from 38 to 328 mm (approximately 7-39 weeks of gestational age [GA]). An initial cartilage plate appeared in the posterior side of the fourth ventricle at GA 7-8 weeks and extended inferiorly to connect with the cartilaginous basioccipital and condyle. At GA 9-10 weeks, on the superior side of the cartilage plate, membranous bone fragments appeared and adopted an arrangement resembling a chain of irregularly-shaped beads. They did not form a complete plate-like bone until late-term. At GA 11-12 weeks, endochondral ossification centers appeared at the upper and lower ends of the cartilage plate. At GA 12-15 weeks, a bar-like periosteal bone developed near and superior to the upper ossification center. Notably, sinusoidal structures, which were surrounded by growing periosteal bones, contained island-like clusters of calcified cartilage fragments. Therefore, the upper ossification center appeared likely to \"migrate\" downward and become distant from membranous bones. The extending periosteal bone reached and joined the membranous bone fragments. Consequently, the periosteal bones connected between the endochondral and membranous bones in the OCS. This connection was quite different from the other components of the calvaria, where membranous bones overlap the skull base cartilages at the margin.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144648350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The developmental bases of cleft lip and cleft palate: cellular and molecular mechanisms.","authors":"Marcello Guarino","doi":"10.5115/acb.25.060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.25.060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hisashi Fujita, In Sun Lee, Jong Ha Hong, Dong Hoon Shin
{"title":"Possible therapeutic trepanation on a frontal sinus of a skull from the Old Kingdom period of Egypt.","authors":"Hisashi Fujita, In Sun Lee, Jong Ha Hong, Dong Hoon Shin","doi":"10.5115/acb.25.119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.25.119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trepanation has been reported on skulls from major ancient civilizations since the Neolithic period. In this study, on a skull excavated from the Qau village site during the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt (7th to 8th dynasties; 2181-2160 BCE), we found a highly probable sign of therapeutic trepanation in the frontal bone. The practice of trepanation was suggested by the healing sign observed at the site on the frontal bone of case QAU-26. Based on our radiological findings, we presume that this ancient Egyptian male likely suffered from frontal sinus pathology, which may have led to the accumulation of exudates inside the cavity. To alleviate the symptoms of sinusitis, the ancient practitioner may have attempted to induce drainage of exudates from the left frontal sinus by therapeutic trepanation. Our findings are significant in medical history, considering that, thus far, trepanation has been reported rarely in ancient Egyptian civilization. This is also the first reported case of trepanation presumed to have been performed to alleviate paranasal sinusitis, which is of paleopathological and clinical significance.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144607199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Judney Cley Cavalcante, Bento João da Graça Azevedo Abreu, Wigínio Gabriel de Lira-Bandeira, Mauro Bezerra Montello, Nicol Zielinska, Łukasz Olewnik
{"title":"Three-headed duplicated omohyoid muscle in a human cadaver.","authors":"Judney Cley Cavalcante, Bento João da Graça Azevedo Abreu, Wigínio Gabriel de Lira-Bandeira, Mauro Bezerra Montello, Nicol Zielinska, Łukasz Olewnik","doi":"10.5115/acb.25.118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.25.118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The omohyoid is a digastric muscle that crosses the neck from the superior border of the scapula to the body of the hyoid bone. Variations in the omohyoid muscle are common, but a double omohyoid is considered rare and may have important clinical implications. The anatomical dissection of the neck of a middle-aged male cadaver revealed an abnormal three-headed duplicated omohyoid muscle. Behind the clavicle, the intermediate head bifurcated and fused with the medial and lateral heads, forming a small plexus that gave rise to two separate bellies, one lateral, and one medial. The bellies ascended in a superomedial direction before inserting into the hyoid bone next to each other. The intermediate tendon was rudimentary in the lateral belly and absent in the medial one. The anatomical variation described here has not been previously reported and may have clinical significance.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144551760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Devendra Shekhawat, Kristen Rizzuto, Rarinthorn Samrid, Chung Yoh Kim, Yoko Tabira, Kazzara Raeburn, Kathleen Bubb, Aaron S Dumont, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Mahindra Kumar Anand, R Shane Tubbs
{"title":"Anatomical study of fascial and aponeurotic bands in the anterolateral leg.","authors":"Devendra Shekhawat, Kristen Rizzuto, Rarinthorn Samrid, Chung Yoh Kim, Yoko Tabira, Kazzara Raeburn, Kathleen Bubb, Aaron S Dumont, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Mahindra Kumar Anand, R Shane Tubbs","doi":"10.5115/acb.24.273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Foot drop can have debilitating effects on quality of life and is usually idiopathic. A better understanding of the nerve relationships of the anterior compartment of the leg could be important in treating some patients. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the deep fibular nerve and its relationship to various connective tissue bands along its course. Fifty-two cadaveric legs were dissected to reveal and identify the branching patterns of the common, superficial, and deep fibular nerves and their passage through the leg's posterior intermuscular septum (PIMS) and anterior intermuscular septum (AIMS). The oval passageway of the common fibular nerve was classified as the superior fibular band, and the crescentic passageways of the deep and superficial fibular nerves were classified as the middle and inferior fibular bands. The inferior boundary of the oval-shaped superior fibular band of the PIMS was positioned at the lateral aspect of the superior most region of the fibular neck. The crescentic middle fibular band of the AIMS was present in 96.15% of legs, its inferior boundary being consistently positioned in 98% of them. The other 2% presented with a thin band of connective tissue in the absence of a distinguishable AIMS. The crescentic inferior fibular band of the AIMS was present in 17.31% of legs. There were no significant differences between right and left sides in the presence or classifications of the fibular bands. Connective tissue bands along the course of the fibular nerves are common and should be considered in idiopathic palsies of these nerves.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144551709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Savvas Melissanidis, George Triantafyllou, George Botis, Konstantinos Natsis, Katerina Vassiou, Marianna Vlychou, George Tsakotos, Theodosis Kalamatianos, Nikolaos Lazaridis, George Matsopoulos, Maria Piagkou
{"title":"Morphology and morphometry of the vertebrobasilar system intracranial segment: a computed tomography angiography study.","authors":"Savvas Melissanidis, George Triantafyllou, George Botis, Konstantinos Natsis, Katerina Vassiou, Marianna Vlychou, George Tsakotos, Theodosis Kalamatianos, Nikolaos Lazaridis, George Matsopoulos, Maria Piagkou","doi":"10.5115/acb.24.249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>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 (<i>P</i><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 (<i>P</i>=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.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144551759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhancing anatomy education using anatomical sign language: expanding its expressive capabilities to the upper and lower extremities, face, and brain structures.","authors":"Mi-Sun Hur, Dong-Su Jang, Chang-Seok Oh","doi":"10.5115/acb.24.275","DOIUrl":"10.5115/acb.24.275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":"173-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12178695/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143188007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Concurrent variations of left testicular vessels.","authors":"Satheesha Badagabettu Nayak","doi":"10.5115/acb.24.198","DOIUrl":"10.5115/acb.24.198","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":"299-302"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12178696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142942820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zimeng Li, Zhe-Wu Jin, Chun-Ai Li, Masahito Yamamoto, Gen Murakami, Jose Francisco Rodríguez-Vázquez, Shogo Hayashi
{"title":"Orbital roof cartilage and bone in human fetuses with special reference to changing territories among the ala minor of the sphenoid, frontal bone, and ethmoid.","authors":"Zimeng Li, Zhe-Wu Jin, Chun-Ai Li, Masahito Yamamoto, Gen Murakami, Jose Francisco Rodríguez-Vázquez, Shogo Hayashi","doi":"10.5115/acb.25.100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.25.100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The orbital roof in adults consists mainly of the frontal bone (FB), with the ala minor of the sphenoid at the posterior margin. In fetuses, these bones have been observed to overlap at the junction. The present study examined sagittal, frontal, and horizontal histological sections from 38 human fetuses at a gestational age (GA) of approximately 7-39 weeks. At GA 7-8 weeks, the ala minor extended anterolaterally from the orbitosphenoid, covering the posteromedial quadrant of the roof until GA 9 weeks and reaching to almost the center of the roof at late-term. Simultaneously, the FB appeared in front of the cerebral frontal lobe, reached the anterolateral corner of the roof, and at late-term, it extended posteromedially to cover at least the anterior half of the orbit. In addition, a superolateral plate of the ethmoid, originating from the future cribriform plate, covered the medial marginal part of the roof and had a maximum area at GA 11-16 weeks. At the junction, the FB overlapped and extended below the ala minor or ethmoid. Therefore, at birth, the FB and ala minor seemed to overlap widely at the central one-third of the orbital roof. Because the ala minor was ossified at late-term, postnatal degeneration and absorption were unlikely. The fetal anterior skull base was not flat because of the delayed elevation of the nose and the deeply caved cranial fossa. The overlapping bone and cartilage might slide and migrate, providing materials for reconstruction and later growth of the skull base.</p>","PeriodicalId":7831,"journal":{"name":"Anatomy & Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144526120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}