Musculus peroneus longus in foetal period.

BACKGROUND: The lateral compartment of the leg, due to its distal and concurrent superficial positioning, is a multiple trauma site. Detailed knowledge of compartimentum lateralis cruris (CLC) structure is crucial for physicians. Musculus peroneus longus (MPL) is located within the structures of the CLC most superficially. There is a lot of data on the morphology of the MPL but there is no publication analysing in detail its anatomy in the foetal period. The aim of the study was to determine the variability of metric and morphological parameters of MPL in a studied period of prenatal ontogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis included 207 human foetuses (101 males and 106 females) at calendar age from 113 to 222 days. The analysed material comes from the local anatomy collection. Foetuses were stored in typical preservation solutions. Access to the muscle was obtained on the basis of standard preparation techniques. The authors evaluated the metric parameters of the muscle showing the presence of variable dynamics of metric increments of the examined muscle in particular age classes. RESULTS: In the studied period of prenatal ontogenesis, MPLs of the foetuses increased by about 60% in the length and width dimension and by about 100% in the thickness dimension. The topography of the initial and final muscle attachment was also evaluated. Statistically significant dimorphic differences were found in some aspects of muscle attachment topography. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the place of the origin and insertion of MPL showed a relatively large variety of these features.

Topography of the common fibular nerve terminal division in human foetuses.

BACKGROUND: The progress of paediatric surgery and increasingly better diagnosis of foetal defects require detailed knowledge of human developmental anatomy. Precise knowledge of the anatomy of innervation of the lower extremities corresponds to this subject and is not only cognitive but also clinically important. The end of the common fibular nerve is superficially located in the area exposed to frequent injuries as well as in the area subject to possible surgical repair procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis was carried out on 200 human foetuses aged from the 113th day to 222nd day of foetal life. The study material is a part of local foetal collection. The study incorporated the following methods: anthropological, preparational and image acquisition which was acquired with the use of high-resolution digital camera. Statistical analysis was carried out with the use of STATISTICA package. RESULTS: Based on the research results the new typology of the examined nerve was determined. The head of the fibula was the criterion: (i) high division - above the head of the fibula (1%); (ii) intermediate division - at the height of the head of the fibula (34%); (iii) low division - below the head of the fibula (65%). The mathematical analysis did not reveal statistically significant bilateral and gender differences. Moreover the additional branch was observed in 30% of foetuses, regardless of age class. This branch occurred in 50% of cases in both sides of the foetus. This nerve was defined as the accessory fibular nerve (nervous fibularis/peroneus accessorius). CONCLUSIONS: The created unique typology of the terminal division of common fibular nerve is an important supplement to the anatomical knowledge and at the same time, due to the peripheral and superficial location of the described structures, it has a relatively high clinical significance.

Branching patterns of the foetal popliteal artery.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study is to evaluate the popliteal artery topography and the origin variability of its branches in human foetuses at the gestational age of from 4 to 9 months. The basis for the analysis are direct observations of classic anatomic dissections of the popliteal fossa. Possible dimorphic and bilateral differen- ces, as well as the gestational age variability at the foetal period, were considered. A typology of popliteal artery branches will be made on the basis of the studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research material of this study comprises 231 foetuses (including 116 males and 115 females). The foetuses were divided into five 28-day age classes. The vessels of the lower extremity were injected with LBSK 5545 latex through the femoral artery. The bilateral dissection of the po- pliteal artery along with its branches was performed. No visible malformations were found in the research material, and the foetuses came from spontaneous abortions and premature births. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Ten per cent of the cases featured the variations of popliteal artery terminal branches. Three most commonly seen variations are the trifurcation, anterior tibial-peroneal trunk, and high terminal division of the po- pliteal artery. The most common course of the superior muscular branches is that there are two large branches which are distributed from the popliteal artery at the height of the knee joint cavity and they do not distribute cutaneous branches. Sural branches are also present as two large vessels without cutaneous branches. The genicular anastomosis branches that run on their own are a typical topographic system of these branches.

The Terminologia Anatomica matters: examples from didactic, scientific, and clinical practice.

The proper usage of the anatomical terminology is of paramount importance to all medical professionals. Although a multitude of studies have been devoted to issues associated with the use and application of the recent version of the anatomical terminology in both theoretical medicine and clinical practice, there are still many unresolved problems such as confusing terms, inconsistencies, and errors, including grammar and spelling mistakes. The aim of this article is to describe the current situation of the anatomical terminology and its usage in practice, as well as explain why it is so important to use precise, appropriate, and valid anatomical terms during the everyday communication among physicians from all medical branches. In this review, we discuss some confusing, obsolete, and erroneous terms that are still commonly used by many clinicians, and surgeons in particular, during the process of diagnosis and treatment. The use of these ambiguous, erroneous, and obsolete terms enhances the risk of miscommunication. We also provide some edifying examples from everyday clinical practice.

Typology of the antegonial notch in the human mandible.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment for serious malocclusions and fractures of the organ of mastication is a golden standard in medicine. Procedures performed on the mandible require detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the organ. Antegonial notching constitutes a serious technical challenge for surgeons. Therefore, a detailed anatomical description of this structure, which is the subject of this paper, is essential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed 251 human Caucasian mandibles of identified sex and took measurements of all sections describing the mandibular antegonial notch. Depending on the proportion between sections we classified the shape of the antegonial notch into three types. The surface area of the notch was calculated. We analysed the dimorphic and bilateral differences for each of the three types of notch. We used variance analysis for the assessment of statistical difference. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that in both men and women, regardless of body side, the type 3 antegonial notch was the most frequent. Type 3 occurred with a frequency of between 38% in men on the right side and 55.9% in women on the left side of the body. Type 1 was the least frequent. Dimorphic differences in the presence of individual types of antegonial notch were statistically significant only for the left side of the body. The symmetrical type (type 2) occurred more frequently in men (by 11%) than in women. Type 3 was found more frequently in women (by 10%) than in men. Bilateral differences in men were revealed for the frequencies of types 1 and 3. On the right side type 1 was more frequent (by 8%), and on the left side type 3 was also more frequent (by 8%). The greatest surface area was found for the asymmetrical posterior type (type 1). The smallest surface area was found for the asymmetrical anterior type 3. This difference was statistically significant with respect to the surface area of types 1 and type 2 and found for both sexes for both sides of the body. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the surface areas of types 1 or 2. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the preangular notch anatomy can be useful for surgeons during reconstructive and plastic procedures on the body of the mandible.

Anatomical analysis of preangular mandibular notch in humans.

The authors have analysed in detail the mandibular preangular notch on the basis of 273 human cadaver mandibles. They have revealed that the pregonial notch is present in almost 90% of cases and that it is generally asymmetric and elliptical in shape. The depth and length of the anterior part of the notch is greater in males. Moreover, the preangular notch depth is greater on the right side (regardless of sex). Knowledge of the preangular notch anatomy can be useful for surgeons during reconstructive and plastic procedures on the mandibular shaft.

Histological studies of growing and mature antlers of red deer stags (Cervus elaphus).

This study aims at presenting histology of growing and mature antlers in red deer stag (Cervus elaphus). Growing antlers constitute a model organ for examining regeneration processes of tissues because they are the only mammalian appendages capable of regeneration. Histological study revealed that the tip of a growing antler consists of hairy skin, perichondrium, mesenchyme and chondroprogenitors area. By performing immunochistochemistry, we found that cell expressing Ki-67 and PCNA antigens were localized in basal layer of epidermis, skin glands and beneath their secretory sections, mesenchyme as well as within and in the vicinity of central blood vessels. Ultrastructurally, cells from chondroprogenitors zone have chondroblast-like morphology and take part in producing of collagen fibres followed by the process of cartilage mineralization. However, mature antlers also consist of lamellar osseous tissue.

A contribution to the discussion concerning the variability of the third peroneal muscle: an anatomical analysis on the basis of foetal material.

The aim of the work was to make a systemic study of the variability of the human musculus peroneus tertius during the foetal period. Examination was made of 193 foetuses of ages ranging from 84 to 256 days after conception. The results obtained indicated that the musculus peroneus tertius was present in 83.16% of the human foetuses studied and that its intrauterine development was progressive and almost proportional. Previous studies have not revealed dimorphic or bilateral differences with respect to any of the features examined. On the basis of the examinations and bibliographical data a uniform typology of the musculus peroneus tertius variants was created and three final types were distinguished: the pithecogenic (44% cases), eugenic (34% cases) and progenic (22% cases).

Change of some values of fetal metric features during storage and preservation.

On the material of 127 human fetuses of both sexes aged 84-112 days of fetal life as well as on 127 fetuses aged 228-256 days of human life, body length (BL), body mass (BM), head circumference (HC) and thorax circumference (ThC) were measured before their preservation. Value changes of these features were assessed as they are exposed to the following factors: placing in water for 6, 12 and 24 minutes; storing in refrigerator and control measurements were done after 12, 24 and 36 hours; storing in 10% solution of formalin for 1 month, 3 month and after 1 year.

Development of ascending colon in human fetal period.

On the material of 178 fetuses of both sexes, ascending colon development in fetal period was studied. Variability of its measurements, shapes as well as of peritoneal and topographic proportions were traced.

Secular changes in human fetuses normally aborted in years 1965-1985.

The authors disposed of numerous cases of fetuses normally aborted during the long period of time therefore the studies of time dependent variability of some somatotropic features in relation to the degree of development were decided. The studies on the fetal material should be always performed with great care as many errors could be introduced. Some of them are related to not enough accurate determination of the fetal age and the variability of the causes of abortion. These would result the inconsistency of stages of fetal development among the material used for the study. Therefore the research was performed using only the fetuses with accurate estimated calendar age and of similar environmental conditions for development. The causes of the abortion were related only to external factors but not to the course of pregnancy. For the analysis only the fetuses of 5th and 6th month of fetal age were used. All fetuses were aborted in the years 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985. The intersexual differences were also taken into consideration and calculated means of the features were related to identical points of the fetal age. The variations in the seating body length (v-tub), the head perimeter, the shoulder width (a-a) and the body weight were analysed in such individualised groups.

[Development of the spine in school children of Lower Silesia]. / Die Entwicklung der Wirbelsäule bei Schulkindern aus Niederschlesien.

Following on from earlier investigations, spondylometry was once again carried out in 1572 school-children aged between 7 and 14, using an elastometer. The results were analyzed using the "Wroclaw Taxonomy Method" and are presented in the tables in this paper. They confirm that the individual sections of the spine grow at different rates and that the overall length of the spine increases considerably faster during puberty than body height.

[Craniometry of cranial vault bones in newborn infants]. / Kraniometrie der Schädeldachknochen bei Neugeborenen.

10 craniometric measurements of the skull bones' fornix have been performed on 89 dried infant skulls. The authors have shown that the craniometric variability of the skull bone's fornix is connected with the skull length rather than with its height. The skull length is determined mostly by the squama of the temporal bone and occipital squama. The shape of the skull vault is determined mainly by parietal bone and squama of the frontal bone. Parietal bones shut unpaired fontanelle, but the remaining bones, under investigation, contribute to the closure of anterolateral and postero-lateral fontanelle.

[Craniometry of the squama of the temporal bone in the newborn]. / Kraniometrie der Schuppe des Schläfenbeins bei Neugeborenen.

In 89 dried infants skulls (49 males and 41 females), the authors carried out the study of the temporal squama basing on statistic data of 8 measurement records. The authors tried to explain the mechanism of the development of temporal squama during the infantile period. They also investigated the relations between the characteristics of the squama and the shape of neurocranium. The studies were carried out on complete material as no marked statistic bilateral and intersex differences were found. In newborn infants the squama grows lengthwise. More intensive growth of the squama length in proportion to its height leads eventually to its vaulting in adults in comparison with newborn infants. The direction of the squama growth according to the authors is due to the presence of lateral fontanella owing mainly to the lengthwise growth of the squama.