THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE LOWER END OF THE HUMAN FEMUR / 解剖学报

The arterial supply of the lower end of the human femur in 100 specimens, ranging in age from the newborn to 87 years, was studied by the perfusion method. Its blood supply is derived from the medial and lateral superior genicular arteries, the descending genicular artery and the middle genicular artery. A complete extracapsular anastomotic ring, surrounding the supracondylar portion of the lower end of the femur, is formed by the medial and lateral superior genicular arteries and the descending genicular artery in 55?4.97%. Its incomplete anterior part is linked by the periosteal arterial network in 45?4.97%. The vessels at the metaphyseal side of the growth plate end in a brush-like pattern, intimately connected to the hypertrophic layer of cells of the growth plate, each vessel turning back in a sharp loop. The anterior and posterior metaphyseal arteries which arise from the extracapsular anastomotic ring and network supply the supracondylar area. The medial and lateral epiphyseal arteries, arising respectively from the descending genicular artery and both superior genicular arteries, supply the medial part of the medial condyle and the lateral part of the lateral condyle. The anterior and intercondylar epiphyseal arteries, arising respectively from the periosteal network and the mildle genicular artery, supply the intercondylar area. The epiphyseal arteries which anastomose with each other in the ossific area of the epiphysis form the precapillaries and capillary network. The anastomotic branches between the epiphyseal arteries, ranging from 25 to 100 microns in diameter, form the arterial plexus in the epiphysis. With the closure of the epiphyseal plate, a free anastomosis is established between the metaphyseal and the epiphyseal vessels. The clinical significance of the topographical characteristics, the course and the distribution of the arterial supply to the lower end of the femur were discussed.

THE BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE TRACHEA IN CHINESE / 解剖学报

The blood supply of the trachea was studied in 100 Chinese cadavers. The trachea is supplied constantly by the inferior thyroid, the bronchial, the superior thyroid and the esophageal arteries, inconstantly by the subclavian (14.5%?3.52), the thyroidea ima (12%?3.25), the costocervical trunks or the superior intercostal (8.5%?2.79), the internal thoracic (6.5%?2.47), the vertebral (2.5%?1.56) and rarely by the thyrocervical trunks (1%?0.99), the innominate (1%?0.99), the aortic arch (0.5%?0.71), the right superficial inferior thyroid (0.5%?0.71) or the right suprascapular artery (0.5%?0.71). The diameters of the tracheal arteries in the adult ranged from 0.2 to 2.1 mm and more than 50% of them exceeded 0.6mm.On passing through the lateral pedicles of the trachea, the segmental tracheal branches divide frequently into tracheal and esophageal arteries. The course of the tracheal arteries and their relations with the recurrent laryngeal nerves and the trunk of the right vagus nerve were observed.There are abundant arterial anastomoses around the trachea. The segmental tracheal arteries branch and run upward and downward on the lateral aspects of the trachea, and connect with the tracheal arteries from above and below. A lateral longitudinal anastomosis of 0.1～0.5 mm in diameter was found in 63.3%?8.80 of 30 cases. Arising from the lateral longitudinal anastomoses, the intercartilaginous arteries of both sides run anteriorly and medially, anastomose with each other and establish anteriorly a collateral circulation between two sides of the trachea. In the lateral pedicles the tracheal branches connect with the branches from above and below to form the paratracheal longitudinal anastomoses, enforcing the collateral circulation of the lateral longitudinal anastomoses. The posterior tracheal wall is supplied by the posterior transverse intercartilaginous arteries and the membranous twigs, which derive from the tracheal and esophageal arteries. They form a netlike anastomosis from one level to another in the posterior tracheal wall. The rich anastomoses in and around the thyroid gland and the upper end of the trachea supplement the circulation to the cervical trachea. The wide anastomoses around the thoracic trachea, extra-pulmonary bronchi and the paracarinal nodes supplement the collateral circulation between the arteries of the upper thoracic trachea and the bronchial arteries.The clinical importances of the topographical characteristics, the course and distribution of the tracheal arteries were discussed.

THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE SCAPHOID BONE AND ITS CLINICAL IMPORTANCE / 解剖学报

The arterial supply of the human scaphoid was studied in 166 specimens ofhands from fresh cadavers of different ages ranging from 6(1/2)months of gestationto 89 years old by injection and clearing techniques.The scaphoid receives its bloodsupply mainly from the radial artery and its superficial palmar branch.There aretwo groups of nutrient arteries,the dorsal and the volar nutrient arteries,enteringthe scaphoid.The dorsal group of arteries which supplies the proximal 70% to 80%of the scaphoid is the main contributor to the intraosseous blood supply.The volargroup of arteries only supplies the distal 20% to 30% of the bone.An explanationfor the cause of scaphoid necrosis following fracture on the basis of the vascularitywas proposed.

THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE HUMAN METATARSALS / 解剖学报

The arterial supply of the human metatarsals in 90 lower limbs,ranging in age from newborn to87 years,was studied by perfusion method. The blood supply of the metatarsals is derived from the nutrient artery,the periosteal arteries,the epiphyseo-metaphyseal arteries and the pseudoepiphyseal arteries. The proximal and distal branches of the nutrient artery supply the inner two-thirds or three-fourths of the cortex. The periosteal arteries give off a few twigs penetrating into the cortex and supplying the outer one-third or one-fourth of the cortex. The radiate form epiphyseo-metaphyseal arteries derived from superficial plexuses in continuity with the periosteal networks on the shafts, supply the base of the first metatarsal, and the heads of the other four. The pseudoepiphyseal arteries, penetrating the non-articular areas of the bones, supply the bases of the second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsals and the head of the first. The sources of the nutrient arteries to the metatarsal vary with the different bone . The nutrient arteries to first metatarsal bone usually originate from the ramus plantaris profundus and the first plantar metatarsal artery, while the nutrient arteries to the other metatarsal bones mainly derive from the plantar metatarsal arteries, the plantar arch and its perforating branches. The clinical significance of the arterial distribution to the metatarsals is discussed.

THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE PROXIMAL END OF THE HUMAN FEMUR / 解剖学报

The arterial supply of the proximal end of the human femur in 100 specimens ranging in age from newborn to 67 years were studied by perfusion method. A complete extracapsular anastomotic ring, formed by both the medial and the lateral femoral circumflex arteries, was present surrounding the base of the femoral neck in 71％. An incomplete subsynovial intraarticular anastomotic ring, formed by the four ascending cervical arterial groups (medial, posterior, lateral and anterior), was present at the margin of the articular cartilage in 74％ of the specimens. There might be defect at anterior, posterior or both aspects. The lateral epiphyseal arteries, giving off many multiarcaded branches towards the articular cartilage, supplied the superior, medial, central and the lateral parts of the head. The medial ascending cervical arteries supplied the infero-posterior part of the head. The medial epiphyseal arteries supplied a limited subfoveal area. The nutrition of the free surface of the articular cartilage was derived from the vascular networks in the synovial membrane near the periphery of the articular cartilage and the fovea capitis femoris, and from the synovial fluid. The nutrition of its deep part near the chondro-osseous junction was derived from the looped epiphyseal capillaries. The superior metaphyseal arteries supplied the lateral two thirds of the neck. The medial, anterior and posterior ascending short cervical arteries supplied the corresponding areas of the neck. During the ossification of the chondroepiphysis the medial and lateral epiphyseal vessels and the medial ascending cervical artery established particular vascular anastomotic arch in the epiphysis. With epiphyseal plate closure in the adult the diaphyseal arteries crossed into the head, established free anastomoses with the epiphyseal arteries. The clinical significance of the topographical characteristics, the course and the distribution of the arterial supply to the proximal end of the femur were discussed.

THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE TALUS / 解剖学报

The arterial supply of the human talus in 100 specimens, ranging in age from newborn to 87 years, has been studied by the arterial perfusion method. The talus is supplied by the artery of tarsal canal, the artery of tarsal sinus, the superior arteries of the neck and the branches of the posterior tubercle. These arteries arising diffusely from the three major arteries of the lower leg and anastomose to form the periosteal network on the non-articular surface of the talus. The anastomotic branches between them, ranging from 25 to 150 microns in diameter, form the arterial plexus within the bone. The relations between the characteristics of the arterial distribution and the avascular necrosis of the body of talus after fracture have been discussed.

THE BRONCHIAL ARTERIES AND THEIR ANASTOMOSES WITH PULMONARY VESSELS IN THE HUMAN LUNG / 解剖学报

The human bronchial arteries and their anastomoses with pulmonary vessels were studied on normal and diseased lungs in 30 adult and infant cadavers under a magnification of 3～40 times.The bronchial arteries pursue a tortuous serpentine course along the surface of the bronchi. They divide either before or after the bifurcation of the bronchi and often send two branches coursing along each bronchus with one branch on each side of the bronchial wall. These branches usually form a network in the fibrous coat of the bronchus. Smaller twigs penetrate the bronchial walls and form a similar network in the submucosa.Mediastinal pleural branches and interlobar pleural branches of the bronchial arteries have their subpleural, independent course from the bronchial tree and their larger caliber at peripheral sites.In the visceral pleura and on the surface of the bronchi or within the bronchial wall, there are precapillary anastomoses between the bronchial and pulmonary arteries, and between the bronchial artery and pulmonary veins. The anastomoses occur either end to end or end to side.In the pleural adhesions of 9 cases of the lungs, the newly developed pleural branches arising from the intercostal, the superior intercostal, the pericardiophrenie or the internal mammary artery, anastomose with the bronchial artery via pleural arterial network to reinforce the blood supply for the diseased pulmonary area.The important physiological function of the anastomoses between the bronchial arteries and pulmonary vessels, as well as the course and distribution of the bronchial arteries in the lungs were discussed.