ABSTRACT
The muscles of mastication derive from a common embryological source, and the presence of accessory muscles in the infratemporal fossa (ITF) is uncommon. Here, we present findings from postmortem dissection of the ITF revealing a unilaterally present muscle extending from the greater wing of the sphenoid to blend inferiorly with the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles before attaching to the lateral pterygoid plate. This muscle is most consistent with the pterygoideus proprius muscle initially described in 1858. Though the exact embryological origin and function of this muscle remain speculative, these topics are nonetheless worth investigating as it may provide insight regarding the ontogeny of muscles descending from the first pharyngeal arch. Additionally, presence of the pterygoideus proprius muscle may have clinical implications and impact surrounding structures such as the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, maxillary artery, pterygoid venous plexus, masticatory muscles, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
ABSTRACT
The arterial support of the liver is most commonly from the celiac trunk via the proper hepatic artery (PHA). The PHA divides into left and right branches: the right hepatic artery (RHA) supplies the right and caudate lobes while the left hepatic artery (LHA) supplies the left and quadrate lobes. Aberrant hepatic arteries are relatively common, and the most frequent contributors are the superior mesenteric artery and left gastric artery. Herein we present findings from postmortem dissection of an abdominal cavity that revealed a rare combination of reported variations. Specifically, this subject had three extrahepatic arteries - a replaced LHA (rLHA), a PHA, and a replaced RHA (rRHA). The rLHA originated from the left gastric and the rRHA originated from the superior mesenteric artery. Knowledge of these variations is important for surgical and radiological procedures to avoid complications during treatment and improve patient outcomes.
