ABSTRACT
Background: Integration of Ultrasonography (USG) and Computed Tomography (CT) sessions into medical curriculum has been started and numerous studies show that they could be useful in anatomy teaching as an adjunct to traditional ways including didactic lectures, cadaveric material or 3D models. Information regarding the benefit and feasibility of integrating radiology sessions into Indian medical curriculum is still lacking.Methods: We introduced didactic and practical sessions of USG and CT focusing on Liver morphology into first year anatomy course and found out student’ perception by Likert- scale type questionnaire at the end. We collected opinions once again from the same cohort during their clinical rotations as junior doctors regarding the effectiveness of radiological sessions at very beginning of their career.Results: The first year students stated that radiology sessions were very interesting (97%) and effective (95%) to improve their anatomy understanding, 93% indicated it will make them more confident while taking practical examinations, 97% indicated such sessions should be incorporated in current anatomy curriculum. Majority of junior doctors (88% of responders) accepted the importance of early exposure to practical radiology in medical curriculum and recommended to include practical USG and CT sessions in anatomy course.Conclusions: This study was first to experiment the impact of practical radiology sessions in anatomy and collect feedback from both first year students and junior doctors in an Indian medical college. Our study shows it is possible and beneficial to include structured ultrasonography and CT sessions to the present MBBS curriculum in conjunction with traditional teaching methods.
ABSTRACT
Background: The common carotid, internal and external carotid arteries and their branches serve as major source of blood supply in head-neck region of human and are often encountered during numerous surgical and clinical interventions of neck.Methods: We dissected and examined both sides of neck in 49 well embalmed cadavers (98 sides). We recorded the following anatomical parameters of carotid arterial system-level of bifurcation, the relation between internal and external carotid arteries, branching pattern of anterior branches of external carotid artery, tortuosity in carotid arterial system, and relation of hypoglossal nerve with the carotid arteries.Results: In 56.16 % cases, the common carotid arterial bifurcation took place at the upper border of thyroid cartilage though high bifurcation was quite common (43.88%). The external carotid artery was located antero-medial to internal carotid artery in most cases (93.87%). Abnormal tortuosity of carotid arterial system was detected in 2.04% cases only. In 86.73% cases, the hypoglossal nerve crossed the internal and external carotid artery superior to carotid bifurcation above the level of hyoid bone while in 1 case it crossed immediately inferior to carotid bifurcation. In branching pattern, following variations were observed- linguo-facial trunk in 15.3% cases, thyro-lingual trunk in 5.1% cases, origin of superior thyroid artery from common carotid in 10.02% cases and origin of superior thyroid from internal carotid in one case (1.02%).Conclusions: The carotid arterial system has complex and variable anatomy in neck and this information should be kept in mind to avoid unwanted damage during surgical procedures of neck.