Bony variations in the cerebral aspect of petromastoid part of adult Egyptian temporal bones

Objective: To illustrate different bony variations in the cerebral aspect of the petromastoid part of temporal bone. These variations were either in the mastoid emissary foramina, or in unlabelled bony projections 0r notches related to the superior petrosal and sigmoid sulci 0r sinuses. T0 the best of our knowledge these variations have not been reported before in Egyptians and may be ofsurgical importance

Methods: One hundred and thirty adult Egyptian temporal bones were used in this study. These bones were obtainedform 60 dried skulls and 5 cadaveric heads after removal of their calvarias, brain and dura mater. Three dimensional [3D] reconstructed images multislice CT. were done for ten adult patients [6 males and 4 females]. Those patients were suffering from headache, ataxia, blurring of vision or epileptic fits with no organic brain lesions

Results: Bony projections were observed either above or below the superior petrosal salons, and on the medial margin of the notches 0n the upper part of the sigmoid sulcus [at the angle between the sigmoid and transverse sinuses]. The sigmoid notch was found to be formed by the sigmoid sinus indenting the petromastoid part of temporal bone. These projections were either small bony elevations, sharp spines [painted or bifid], multiple projections fused at their bases toform winged spinous processes, or shelf like projections.The bony projections were found in 60 temporal bones [46.15%]. These projections were bilateral in 20 temporal bones [33.3%], and unilateral in 40 [66.6%] either on right or left side. They were found on the left side in 35 temporal bones [58.33%] and on the right in 25 temporal bones [41.66%]. 50 bony projections were more likely to be on the left side than the right side. The projections were divided according to their approximate sizes into small [62.85% on the left, and 72% on the right], medium [28.57% on the left, and 20% on the right] or large [8.57%0n the left and 8% on the right] Radiological results confirmed the anatomical findings. Bony projections and notches were either absent or present on both sides of the same skull. However asymmetrical Variations of these projections and notches were also observed in the same skull

Conclusion: Bony projections located superior or inferior to superior petrosal sulcus may act as pegs for attachment of the tent shaped-tentorium cerebelli, while projections 0n the medial margin of sigmoid sulcus [ as the sigmoid sinus indented the petromastoid portion] may be formed by strong retinaculum-Iike band of dura mater pulling at the bone. This retinaculum may be responsible for the angulation between the sigmoid and transverse sinuses. These bony projections, when present, could be detected easily by multish'ce CT. scan. They will be encountered during surgical operations involving the skull-base, whenever dissection of tentorium or ligation of sigmoid sinus is needed. Thus, awareness of its presence in close proximity to the sigmoid and superior petrosal sinuses is of surgical importance. Hence multislice CT is recommended preoperatively to detect these bony projections

Study of the profunda femoris artery and its anatomical variations in human

To study the profunda femoris artery in human and to illustrate any variation in the artery as regard its origin, and branching pattern. Twenty four cadaveric lower limbs of both sexes were used in this study. At first, the femoral artery was suspected to cannulation and injection with gelatin/lead oxide mixture. The profunda femoris artery was sequentially dissected and studied for any variation in the origin and branches. An angiograph was used to show the role of profunda femoris artery in case of obstruction of femoral artery. The profunda femoris artery originated from the femoral artery at a distance ranged form 2.5-7 cm below the inguinal ligament. It had an external diameter of 0.4-0.7 cm. Many variations in both origin and branching pattern were detected. It originated from the lateral [one specimen], posterolateral [22 specimens] and postero-medial aspect of femoral artery [one specimen]. In most of the specimens, the M.F.C. [18 specimens- 75%] and L.F.C. [20 specimens- 83.3%] were found to arise directly from the profunda femoris artery. While in 6 specimens [25%] the M.F.C. arised directly from the femoral artery. In 4 specimens [16.7%] the L.F.C. arised from the femoral artery. In one specimen, it was found that the descending branch of L.F.C. arised directly from the femoral artery. Angiograph of obstructed femoral artery demonstrated the presence of 2 longitudinal series of anastomosis; one of them was the descending branch of L.F.C. with the superolateral genicular branch of popliteal artery and the other was between the 4 perforators, and proximal and muscular branches of popliteal artery. There are variations in the branching pattern of the profunda femoris artery which is the main arterial supply of the thigh. Another function is to conduit also blood to leg via anastomosing branches with the popliteal artery. These findings are of great importance to vascular surgeon as in occlusive arterial disorder of the femoral artery this artery represents the only hope of saving a critical ischaemic limb to avoid amputation and also important to plastic surgeon during designing myocutaneous flaps of the thigh

Anatomical study of the anterior talo-fibular ligament of human ankle joint

Twenty formalin preserved lower limbs were used in this study. Fifteen limbs [13 males and 2 females] were dissected to explore the lateral collateral ligament and 5 limbs were sectioned transversely at the level of lateral malleolus. MRI studies were done on five volunteers [three males and two females] while each subject was in supine position and the foot in the neutral position. The anterior talofibular ligament was a thickening of the capsule of ankle joint. It was a broadband attached from the anterior margin of the fibula to the lateral aspect of the neck of talus. It assumed two forms, either single band or two bands fused together with a separation line. The presence of more than one band had a great importance during the surgical repair of severed talofibular ligament, not to repair only one band and miss the other. All ligaments of the fibula were attached to its anterior border or anterior surface only for the tip of lateral malleolus to be free from ligamentous insertion, which is necessary for screw-like movement of fibula on its long axis. Although the anterior talofibular ligament is a major component of the lateral collateral ligament and plays an important role in stabilizing the ankle joint, yet it is the weakest one and the first to be injured in cases of sprain of ankle joint. Different ligaments attached to the lateral malleolus were found to be very close together in order to reinforce this weak anterior talofibular ligament. The inferior extensor retinaculum was attached to the lateral malleolus very close to the anterior talofibular ligament, so this retinaculum can be used during the repair of the ligament to reinforce it

Relation of glenoid fossa morphology to mandibulofacial asymmetry in dry human skulls

In this study, 40 human dry adult skulls were used, all had complete dentition and had no gross morphologic defects. Different measurements were obtained, statistically analyzed and tabulated. The results showed that the articular surface was relatively steeper on the right than on the left and the vertical variables on the left were longer on average. The glenoid fossa and the adjacent skull base on the right were more laterally and distally located than those on the left. The measured variables of asymmetry showed various inter- correlations; the most significant relationship was found between the sagittal positions on the skull base points and between asymmetries in the bilateral structures of the glenoid fossa and the mandibular midline location

comparative anatomical study of soleus muscle in guinea pig, rabbit and human

Forty-five soleus muscles were used in this study; 15 were obtained from human formalin preserved cadavers, 15 from guinea pig and 15 from rabbit after cervical dislocation. The obtained specimens were dissected and examined for their gross anatomy and nerve supply. The posterior surface of soleus of human, guinea pig and rabbit received a constant posterior branch originated from the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa and entered the upper part of this surface. The human soleus received an additional branch originated from the tibial nerve, either in the popliteal fossa or near the calcaneus and entered the anterior aspect of the muscle, this is identified as anterior branch. This branch was absent in guinea pig and rabbit soleus muscle. Bipennate belly present on the anterior surface of the muscle was demonstrated only in human soleus and absent in guinea pig and rabbit soleus

histological study of human placental villi at different gestational ages by scanning electron microscopy

Five specimens were taken from normal full-term placentae immediately after delivery and other five were obtained from placentae at 10-14 weeks of gestation after therapeutic abortion. All specimens obtained were immersed in 4% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer and prepared to be examined by scanning electron microscopy. The study concluded that human placental villi was designed in a highly specialized pattern to allow a maximum absorptive capacity per surface area. This was achieved by a complete covering of villi by numerous microvilli, furrows in the villi to increase its surface area and an increased number of microvilli with age to face demands of growing fetus. Normal healthy placentae had no areas devoid of microvilli on the chorionic villous surface. The presence of such areas may be due to pathological conditions and most probably related to fetal biology and may have deleterious effect on the growing fetus

Prenatal and postnatal morphological changes of lingual papillae in albino rat: a scanning electron microscopic study

Twenty albino rat tongues were used in this study at different age groups. Each group contained five tongues obtained at ages of 16 days prenatally, at birth, one week and three weeks. All specimens were immersed in 4% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer and prepared to be examined by scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopic examination of prenatal and postnatal tongues revealed that the rudiments of each of the three different types of lingual papillae appeared at different stages of development in rats. The rudiments of the fungiform and circumvallate papillae, which are related to taste sensation, were visible earlier than those of the filiform papillae which are not involved in this sense. The neonates depended mainly on suckling [liquid diet that needs no friction] at least for the first six months of life

Study of metacarpals and phalanges for sex identification among Egyptian

The purpose of the present study was to develop a method for the determination of sex from metacarpals and proximal phalanges. The study was carried out on 50 adult hands of known sex. Four measurements were taken on each bone. Regression equations were computed for each bone using combination of these measurements for prediction of sex. The percentage of accuracy of correct sex determination calculated from these equations ranged from 78 to 94%. These equations were then applied to a test sample of another 20 hands, also of known sex, to establish the degree of accuracy in assigning sex, where the percentage of actual correct sex determination ranged from 80 to 95%