Structural characteristics and functional significance of the buccal fat pad (corpus adiposum buccae).

Corpus adiposum buccae (c.a.b.) was studied on 42 human subjects (fetuses and adults) using microdissection under magnifying glass after injection of the great vessels of the head with plastics, transparency technique of Spalteholtz and current histological methods. In fetuses, c.a.b. appeared as a well-developed mass located between Buccinator and inferior border of the Masseter. In adults, it emanated three prolongations among which the anteriorly directed molar prolongation was more conspicuous in edentulous old people. Externally, it was covered by a fine conjunctival wrap, which sent septa dividing the buccal fat pad in a series of minute fibroadipous compartments. C.a.b. contained a rich vascular network deriving from the branches of the facial and maxillary arteries. In this vascular net a more developed artery emanated branches to the prolongations of the c.a.b. The veins were tributaries of the pterygoid venous plexus. Beside the vessels, c.a.b. contained also lymphatics and myelinated nerves. The authors postulated that c.a.b. assumed the following functions: a) It filled up the masseter-zygomaticus-buccinator space forming an amortizing and a slipping platform for the masticatory muscles in action; b) in the baby, it resisted to the negative pressure which acted into the buccal cavity during sucking; c) its rich venous net, provided with valve-like structures, may be implicated in the exo-endocranial blood flow by means of the pterygoid plexus.

The aberrant retroesophageal right subclavian artery.

Two cases with arteria lusoria were found at 278 routine dissections. These arteria arise as the last branches of the aortic arch and have a retroesophageal position. At the crossing point, the esophagus narrows due to the groove caused by the artery. The appearance of this malposition is the consequence of the perturbation in the organo-genesis of the right dorsal aorta and fourth branchial artery. The aberration can lead to disphagia lusoria.

Some aspects concerning the peculiarities of the pterygoid venous plexus in man related to age.

The pterygoid venous plexus (pt.v.pl.) was studied in 54 human heads (adults, children, fetuses) halved in the middle sagital plan, using microdissections and injections with PVC, coloured gelatin and roentgenopaque masses. In adults, the pt.v.pl. was closely related to the external pterygoid muscle. The superficial variant (more frequent) maintained connections with the facial vein through a venous network named by us "plexus pterygo-temporo-buccalis". The deep variant (less frequent) could be included in the system of venous plexuses placed at the basis cranii. Its tributaries, accompanying the lingual nerve, established connections with the veins of the sublingual compartment (a fact not yet mentioned in the literature). In children and old humans the pt.v.pl. was formed only by some large veins giving a radiate structure ("starfish-shaped" plexus) corresponding to the first and second portion of the maxillary artery. These results revealed that the pt.v.pl. is a unique formation which could be more developed laterally or medially in comparison with the external pterygoid muscle, in relation with the superficial or deep position of the maxillary artery. The practical importance of the pt.v.pl. is emphasized.

A new conception concerning the angioarchitectural organization of the canine kidney.

The sublobular artery arises from the arcuate artery, as a constant vessel possessing its proper personality, giving 2 equal subdivisions, from which part the interlobular arteries. The sublobular arteries are characterized by a particular origin and branching type, having no or sporadically disposed glomeruli. Occasionally, arteriae interlobulares derive directly from the arcuate artery too. The authors suggest the acception of term "Arteria sublobularis " in the international nomenclature of the renal vessels. According our opinion the canine kidney is composed of a number of conical units, containing in their axis a sublobular artery of 2nd order. Certain theoretical and practical aspects of this new conception are briefly discussed.

Contributions to the morphology of the human coronary sinus.

The configuration and morphological features of the coronary sinus (c.s.) were studied on 54 human adult hearts. The c.s. has on an average 36 mm in length and 9 mm in diameter. The most frequent is the cylindrical configuration (67%), then follows the so-called "wafer" form (19%) and the funnel shaped c.s. (13%). The valve of Vieussens was present in 78%, but well developed only in 6% of the cases. The classical opening of the middle and small cardiac veins into c.s. was remarked in 28%; for the rest the particular forms described in this work make themselves obvious. The large tributaries of c.s. are provided with ostial valves in a percentage of 41%. The form and dimensions of the Thebesius valve are very variable; it is absent in 9% of the cases. The Marshall's vein appears as an obturated cord in a proportion of 20%. In each case there was found on the surface of the c.s. a myocardial coat, consisting of two layers, which form a device having probably a constrictive function during the atrial systole.

Arguments justifying the acception of the notion "sublobular artery" in the nomenclature of renal vessels: the "conical" architectonics of the renal cortex.

The corrosion technique was used to demonstrate the presence of the "sublobular artery", a constant vessel with a special profile of the dog kidney, generating after two divisions the so-called interlobular arteries as a third generation of branches. More rarely arteriae interlobulares emerge also directly from the arcuate artery. The sublobular arteries (= parent vessels of the interlobular arteries) are characterized by their particular origin, branching type, and by having no or sporadically disposed glomeruli. For this reason, the authors suggest the acception of the term "arteria sublobularis" in the international nomenclature of renal vessels. According to authors' opinion the dog kidney is composed of a number of conical vascular-parenchymatous units, each containing in their axis a sublobular artery of the second order ("conical" architectonics of the renal cortex).