Unusual topography of posterior antebrachial musculature in the first osseofibrous compartment of wrist: clinicomorphological appraisal / Topografía inusual de la musculatura antebraquial posterior en el primer compartimento osteofibroso de la muñeca: valoración clínico-morfológica

Anatomical variations of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis are important in clinical assessment of diseased and traumatized hand. The present case reports an unusual fusion of muscle bellies of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis with two separate tendons of insertion, the medial tendon inserted into the base of first metacarpal and the lateral tendon into the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. Knowledge of such anatomical variations is of utmost importance in the management of De Quervain's disease and reconstructive surgeries of hand.

Las variaciones anatómicas de los músculos abductor largo del pulgar y extensor corto del pulgar son importantes en la evaluación clínica de la mano enferma y traumatizada. El presente caso informa una inusual fusión de los vientres musculares de los Mm. abductor largo del pulgar y extensor corto del pulgar con dos tendones de inserción separados, el tendón medial se insertó en la base del primer metacarpiano y el tendón lateral en el músculo abductor corto del pulgar. El conocimiento de estas variaciones anatómicas es de importancia en el manejo de la enfermedad de De Quervain y cirugía reconstructiva de la mano.

Unilateral quadripartite composition of pectoral major muscle: anatomical description and clinical implications / Composición unilateral cuadripartita del músculo pectoral mayor: descripción anatómica e implicancias clínicas

A unilateral anomalous disposition of the muscular slips of pectoralis major was observed in an adult male cadaver during routine gross anatomy teaching session. The pectoralis major muscle displayed unusual configuration and comprised of four parts delineated by three intramuscular clefts. Further, the sternocostal part was found to divide into two fasciculi. The origin and insertion of pectoralis major muscle was as usual and unremarkable. Interestingly, the innervation of the muscle was observed to bear an important variation. The clavicular and sternocostal slips of pectoralis major muscle received a direct branch from the lateral cord of brachial plexus in addition to its usual innervation from the lateral and medial pectoral nerves. The multiplicity of innervation of pectoralis major as encountered in the present study would presumably augment its suitability for its use in reconstructive procedures. An additional anomalous attachment of the pectoralis minor muscle was also observed emanating from the second rib, apart from the usual third, fourth and fifth ribs. These variants of the pectoral muscles may also have implications in biomechanical studies, as they may alter the kinematics.

Una disposición anómala unilateral de los vientres musculares del músculo pectoral mayor se observó en un cadáver adulto de sexo masculino durante una clase de rutina de anatomía. El músculo pectoral mayor mostró una configuración inusual y presentaba cuatro partes delimitadas por tres depresiones intramusculares. Además, la parte esternocostal se encontraba dividdida en dos fascículos. El origen y la inserción del músculo pectoral mayor era normal. Curiosamente, la inervación de los músculos, presentaba una importante variación anatómica. Los fascículos clavicular y esternocostal del músculo pectoral mayor recibieron una rama directa del fascículo lateral del plexo braquial, además de su inervación normal de los nervios pectoral lateral y medial. La múltiple inervación del músculo pectoral mayor como se encuentró en el presente estudio, probablemente, haga aumentar su idoneidad para el uso en procedimientos reconstructivos. También se observó un fascículo adjunto anómalo adicional del músculo pectoral menor, que se originaba de la segunda costilla, además de su origen en la tercera, cuarta y quinta costillas. Estas variaciones de los músculos pectorales también puede tener implicancias en estudios biomecánicos, ya que probablemente alteran la cinemática.

Ossification of caroticoclinoid ligament and its clinical importance in skull-based surgery

CONTEXT: The medial end of the posterior border of the sphenoid bone presents the anterior clinoid process (ACP), which is usually accessed for operations involving the clinoid space and the cavernous sinus. The ACP is often connected to the middle clinoid process (MCP) by a ligament known as the caroticoclinoid ligament (CCL), which may be ossified, forming the caroticoclinoid foramen (CCF). Variations in the ACP other than ossification are rare. The ossified CCL may have compressive effects on the internal carotid artery. Thus, anatomical and radiological knowledge of the ACP and the clinoid space is also important when operating on the internal carotid artery. Excision of the ACP may be required for many skull-based surgical procedures, and the presence of any anomalies such as ossified CCL may pose a problem for neurosurgeons. CASE REPORT: We observed the presence of ossified CCL in a skull bone. A detailed radiological study of the CCL and the CCF was conducted. Morphometric measurements were recorded and photographs were taken. The ACP was connected to the MCP and was converted into a CCF. Considering the fact that standard anatomy textbooks do not provide morphological descriptions and radiological evaluations of the CCL, the present study may be important for neurosurgeons operating in the region of the ACP.

CONTEXTO Y OBJETIVO: El extremo intermedio de la frontera posterior del hueso del sphenoid presenta el proceso anterior del clinoid (ACP), que está alcanzado generalmente para las operaciones que implican el espacio clinoidal y el sino cavernoso. El ACP es conectado a menudo con el proceso medio del clinoid (MCP) por un ligamento conocido como el ligamento del carotico-clinoid (CCL), que puede ser osificado, formando el agujero del clinoid del carotico (CCF). Las variaciones del ACP con excepción de la osificación, son raras. El CCL osificado puede tener efectos compresivos en la arteria carótida interna. El conocimiento así anatómico y radiológico del ACP y del espacio clinoidal es también importante mientras que funciona en la arteria carótida interna. La supresión del ACP se puede requerir para muchos cirugía basada cráneo y la presencia de cualquier anomalía tal como CCL osificado, puede plantear un problema para el neurocirujano. INFORME DEL CASO: Observamos la presencia de CCL osificado en un hueso del cráneo. Un estudio radiológico detallado del CCL y del CCF fue conducido. Las medidas morphometric fueron registradas y las fotografías fueron tomadas. El ACP fue conectado con el MCP y convertido en un CCF. En vista del hecho, los libros de textos de esa anatomía del estándar no proporcionan la descripción morfológica y la evaluación radiológica de CCL, el actual estudio puede ser importante para los neurocirujanos que funcionan en la región del ACP.

Unusual occipital condyles of the skull: an osteological study with clinical implications

CONTEXT: The occipital condyles of the skull articulate with the superior articular facets of the atlas vertebra and form an important junction between the cranium and the vertebral column. The morphological features of occipital condyles are relevant in biomechanical, anatomical and clinical studies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the anatomical profile of unusual occipital condyles detected in a bone specimen. CASE REPORT: The present osteological study provides a detailed morphological description of unusual occipital condyles showing uneven and serrated surfaces and also displaying longitudinal and transverse grooves on the left and right sides respectively. The case study also discusses the clinical importance of such anomalies. Precise anatomical knowledge of the occipital condyles is important for any craniovertebral operative procedures such as resection of the occipital condyles.

CONTEXTO: Os côndilos occipitais do crânio se articulam com as facetas superiores da vértebra atlas e formam uma importante junção entre o crânio e a coluna vertebral. As características morfológicas dos côndilos occipitais são relevantes em estudos biomecânicos, anatômicos e clínicos. OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil anatômico de côndilos occipitais incomuns observados em uma amostra óssea cadavérica. RELATO DE CASO: O estudo osteológico aqui apresentado mostra a detalhada descrição morfológica de côndilos occipitais incomuns com superfícies desproporcionais e serradas, e também com sulcos longitudinais e transversais à esquerda e à direita, respectivamente. O estudo do caso também discute a importância clínica dessas anomalias. O conhecimento anatômico preciso dos côndilos occipitais é importante para qualquer procedimento cirúrgico como, por exemplo, a ressecção de côndilos occipitais.

Anomalous Lobar Pattern of Right Lung: A Case Report / Anomalía del Patrón Lobar del Pulmón Derecho: Reporte de un Caso

The right lung classically has two fissures, an oblique and a horizontal, dividing it into three lobes namely the superior, middle and lower. The anomaly of the lobar pattern has been described by many research workers on CT scans, where as, there are fewer studies on gross anatomical specimens. In the present case , which was incidentally detected, we report three fissures dividing the right lung into four lobes. Such abnormal fissures and lobes are clinically important for identifying broncho-pulmonary segments. Anatomical knowledge of anomalies of fissures and lobes of lungs may be important for surgeons performing lobectomies, radiologists interpreting X ray and CT scans and also of academic interest to all medical personnel.

El pulmón derecho clásicamente tiene dos fisuras, una oblicua y una horizontal, dividiéndolo en tres lóbulos: superior, medio e inferior. Anomalías del patrón lobar han sido descritas en algunas investigaciones con scaner, pero son poco estudiadas en anatomía macroscópica. En el presente caso, el cual fue accidentalmente detectado, describimos tres fisuras dividiendo el pulmón derecho en cuatro lóbulos. Tanto las fisuras como los lóbulos son clínicamente importantes para identificar segmentos broncopulmonares. El conocimiento de las variaciones de las fisuras y de los lóbulos del pulmón son importantes para los cirujanos, imagenólogos y anatomistas.

Unusual organization of the ansa cervicalis: a case report

The superior root of the ansa cervicalis is formed by C1 fibers carried by the hypoglossal nerve, whereas the inferior root is contributed by C2 and C3 nerves. We report a rare finding in a 40-year-old male cadaver in which the vagus nerve fused with the hypoglossal nerve immediately after its exit from the skull on the left side. The vagus nerve supplied branches to the sternohyoid, sternothyroid and superior belly of the omohyoid muscles and also contributed to the formation of the superior root of the ansa cervicalis. In this arrangement, paralysis of the infrahyoid muscles may result following lesion of the vagus nerve anywhere in the neck. The cervical location of the vagus nerve was anterior to the common carotid artery within the carotid sheath. This case report may be of clinical interest to surgeons who perform laryngeal reinnervation and neurologists who diagnose nerve disorders.

Clinical importance of unusual patterns of tendinous intersections of rectus abdominis muscle.

The objective of the present study was to note the different patterns of tendinous intersections of rectus abdominis muscle and its surgical importance. The tendinous intersections of rectus abdominis muscle were studied in dissected 46 human cadavers dissected over a span of 3 years. Only two unusual patterns of intersections; one with tendinous intersections arched, and the other with the intersections at different levels on the right and left sides of the same cadaver, were observed, in two different cadavers. The tendinous intersections are the sites of anastomosis of numerous blood vessels. Surgeons using the the Transverse Rectus Abdominis (TRAM) flap in autogenous breast constructive surgeries should be aware of such unusual patterns so as to design the TRAM flap accordingly. Biomechanics of rectus abdominis muscle may also be influenced by arched pattern of tendinous intersections instead of normal transverse pattern.