ABSTRACT
Background: Spinal stenosis is defined as the narrowing of central spinal canal or its lateral recesses. Stenosis of spinal canal becomes important only when it results in interference with the normal functions of the contents of the canal. Narrowing of spinal canal seems to be a normal part of advancing age but certain uncertainties persist as regards to radiological definition of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Material & Method: The present study was aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of stenosis of spinal canal through the most recent technique, MRI. Fifty symptomatic and 18 asymptomatic subjects were included. Antero-posterior and transverse diameters of vertebral canal were compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects and statistically analyzed. Results & Discussion: The present study clearly shows that in both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects there is a gradual decrease in the antero-posterior diameter from above downwards . The minimum anteroposterior and maximum transverse diameter was seen at L4L5 level making this level susceptible to compressive symptomatology. Apparent stenosis was observed in some asymptomatic subjects.
ABSTRACT
The external jugular vein, which traverses the sternocleidomastoid muscle superficially, is known to exhibit variations in its formation and course. There are less reports on the communication of the external and internal jugular vein. During routine cadaveric dissection, we detected an abnormal communication of the external jugular vein and the internal jugular vein, in a 45 year male cadaver. The knowledge of both normal and abnormal anatomy of the superficial veins of the neck may be important for clinicians performing catheterization and surgeons operating in the region of the neck. The presence of such anomalous communications may also be important for radiologists performing angiographic and sonographic studies.
La vena yugular externa, cruza transversal y superficialmente al músculo esternocleidomastoideo presentando variaciones en su curso y formación, existiendo algunos repórters en las comunicaciones entre ambas venas yugulares externa e interna. Durante ua disección de rutina, detectamos una anormal comunicación entre ambas venas, en una cadáver de sexo masculino de 45 años. El conocimiento de la anatomía normal y de las variaciones de las venas superficiales del cuello es importante en los procedimientos de cateterización tanto para clínicos como para cirujanos que operan en esta región. La presencia de estas variaciones de comunicación venosa es importante además, para imagenólogos y estudios sonográficos.