Renal artery variants: a comprehensive cadaveric comparative study using morphological and corrosion casting technique

Background: Kidneys, crucial excretory organs, receive substantial blood supply through renal arteries. Variations in their anatomy are common, warranting detailed investigation. This study aims to comprehensively examine renal artery patterns using both gross dissection and the corrosion cast method. Methods: Thirty kidney pairs from cadavers were meticulously dissected at Subharti Medical College, Meerut, U.P. India. Gross features were carefully noted, and corrosion casts were meticulously prepared. Prevalence, origin, level, division, course, and variations were exhaustively recorded to provide a thorough understanding of renal vascular anatomy. Results: Main renal arteries were found to predominantly originate from the abdominal aorta in all specimens. Interestingly, a higher prevalence of origin of right renal arteries was observed, with 47% exhibiting a higher origin than their left counterparts. Further analysis revealed prehilar division in 38.3% and hilar division in 61.6% of specimens. Notably, a segmental pattern of renal arteries was observed. Accessory renal arteries (8%) were identified, including rare occurrences of bilateral and double accessory renal arteries. Of particular significance was the observation of an accessory renal artery passing anterior to the inferior vena cava, highlighting the intricacies of renal vascular variations. Conclusions: While reaffirming the conventional understanding of renal arterial anatomy, this study emphasizes the complexity and clinical relevance of variations in renal artery morphology. Such detailed insights are invaluable for surgical and radiological practice, underlining the importance of meticulous preoperative assessment to optimize patient outcomes.

Microvascular anatomy of olfactory and accessory olfactory (vomeronasal) organs in adult Xenopus laevis: scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts / Anatomía microvascular de órganos olfatorios y accesorios (vomeronasal) en adultos Xenopus laevis: microscopía electrónica de barrido de moldes de corrosión vascular

Microvascular anatomy and histomorphology of olfactory and vomeronasal organs in adult Xenopus laevis Daudin were studied by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and paraplast embedded stained serial tissue sections. Results show that the arterial supply is bilaterally by terminal arterioles of the medial branch of the nasal artery and by the palatal artery. Arterioles give rise to a capillary meshwork characteristic for respiratory surfaces in principal chambers and in dorsal and caudal areas of middle chambers. Anterior and inferior areas of the middle chambers own a distinctly different capillary network with conspicuous short capillary loops. Loops have a dilated tip and extend in acute angles towards the chamber lumen. The vomeronasal organ (VNO) locates beneath the olfactory organ. It has a medial to lateral extension and attaches with its caudal circumference to the medial nasal glands. Its capillary bed displays rectangular meshes which preferentially orientate along the long axis of the VNO. Locally, capillaries form short hairpin-like or strongly twisted loops with dilated tips which point towards the lumen of the VNO. These capillaries slow-down blood velocity and may lead to an increased exchange of oxygen, nutrients and water-borne odorants in the middle chambers and of pheromones in the VNO. In the latter vascular structures are present which might serve as a vascular pump.

Se estudiaron la anatomía microvascular e histomorfología de los órganos olfatorios y vomeronasales de Xenopus laevis Daudin adultos, mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido de moldes de corrosión vascular y secciones de tejido seriadas, teñidas e incluídas en paraplast. Los resultados muestran que el suministro arterial es bilateral por arteriolas terminales de la rama medial de la arteria nasal y por la arteria palatina. Las arteriolas dan lugar a un lecho capilar característico de las superficies respiratorias en las cámaras principales y en las áreas dorsal y caudal de las cámaras intermedias. Las áreas anterior e inferior de las cámaras centrales poseen una red capilar significativamente diferente con llamativos bucles capilares cortos. Los bucles tienen una punta dilatada y se extienden en ángulos agudos hacia la luz de la cámara. El órgano vomeronasal (VNO) se ubica debajo del órgano olfatorio. Se extiende de medial a lateral y se une con su circunferencia caudal a las glándulas nasales mediales. El lecho capilar muestra mallas rectangulares que se orientan preferentemente a lo largo del eje longitudinal del VNO. Localmente, los capilares forman bucles cortos en forma de horquilla o fuertemente retorcidos con puntas dilatadas que apuntan hacia la luz del VNO. Estos capilares ralentizan la velocidad de la sangre y pueden conducir a un mayor intercambio de oxígeno, nutrientes y odorizantes, a base de agua en las cámaras intermedias y de feromonas, en el VNO. En este último, están presentes estructuras vasculares que podrían servir como una bomba vascular.

OBSERVATION OF THE CORROSION CASTS OF STOMACH LYMPHATICS IN THE RABBIT / 解剖学报

The three-dimensional organization and anastomoses of lymphatics in the rabbit stomach were demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy of lymphatic corrosion casts. Casting medium is the diluted low viscosity Mercox used for intraparenchymatous injection into the mucosal, submucosal, muscular and serous layers of the stomach. The lymphatic capillaries with blind ends were found in the deep mucosa and the lymphatic capillary networks and lymphatic plexus were observed in all the submucosal, muscular and serous layers. The distinct imprints which correspond to the bicuspid valves of lymphatics and the oval or fusiform impressions of the endothelial nuclei were seen on the casts.