Prevalence of Taurodontism in Contemporary and Historical Populations from Radom: A Biometric Analysis of Radiological Data.

Taurodontism is a morphological anomaly of multirooted molars characterized by apical displacement of the pulp chamber, shortened roots, and the absence of constriction at the dentoenamel junction. It can negatively impact the outcome of dental treatment plans. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of taurodontism among contemporary and historical populations from Radom, Poland. Five hundred eighty-two panoramic radiographs of contemporary patients and 600 radiographs of historical individuals were analyzed using the Shifman and Chanannel index. Group differences were determined with Pearson's chi-square tests according to sex, site, tooth group, and historical period. The study also evaluated the degree of severity of taurodontism in relation to dental groups, gender, and the periods from which contemporary patients as well as historical individuals originated. In the contemporary population, taurodontism was observed in 34% of individuals. In the historical data, the highest prevalence of taurodontism (31%) was observed among individuals from the 18th and 19th centuries, while earlier periods exhibited considerably lower prevalence rates. Across contemporary and historical populations, the maxillary molars were the most commonly affected teeth. Hypotaurodontism was the most prevalent form of taurodontism. The prevalence of taurodontism has gradually increased from the 11th century to the current day. The results of the research are of great importance for the clinician in terms of planning comprehensive dental treatment.

Vascularization of the mandibular condylar head with respect to intracapsular fractures of mandible.

BACKGROUND: Causes of mandibular condylar (condylar) head necrosis as a consequence of intracapsular mandibular fractures are still a subject of controversy. OBJECTIVES: To investigate why in some cases of intracapsular fractures condylar head necrosis occurs. MATERIAL: 58 human heads from the collection of Head and Neck Clinical Anatomy Laboratory, from the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland, constituted the material. STUDY: Head arterial tree injections, anatomical preparation with the use of standard set of microsurgical equipment and an operating microscope. RESULTS: The main source of condylar head vascularization is the inferior alveolar artery, supplying bone marrow of the whole mandible as well as its cortical layer. Additional arterial blood supplying comes from a various number (2-7) of branches supplying the temporomandibular joint capsule. They originate directly from the maxillary artery or from its primary branches: masseteric artery, external pterygoid artery or superficial temporal artery. Two rare variants of accessory mandibular head vascularization were encountered. The first (2 cases) was an arterial branch from the maxillary artery and the second (1 case) was a branch from the external pterygoid artery. In these cases the arterial supply of lateral part of temporomandibular joint capsule from other sources was reduced. CONCLUSION: Fractures resulting in the lateral part of the condylar head in isolation could be potentially threatened by necrosis because of poor vascularization.

Correlations between selected parameters of the human skull and orbit.

BACKGROUND: Correlations between selected metric parameters of the human skull and the orbit should be useful for anticipating probable dimensions of the orbit in living subjects. MATERIAL/METHODS: One hundred human skulls derived from medieval cemeteries in Poland and 20 additional contemporary skulls were investigated. Measurements were made with anthropometric caliper, vernier caliper and lead. RESULTS: For orbit depth, orbital coefficient was negatively correlated with the width and length coefficient of the skull, but skull length was positively correlated. The minimal distance between the anterior lacrimal crest and the optic canal had a positive correlation with the skull length and a negative correlation with the orbital coefficient. The distance between the fronto-zygomatic suture and the optic canal had a positive correlation with skull height and with orbit width. The distance between the infraorbital foramen and the optic canal had a negative correlation with the orbital coefficient. Empirical formulas were derived on the basis of the calculated means. These formulas allow prediction of the distances between important orbital structures and topographical points at the orbital entrance, based on skull dimensions which are easily measurable intravitally. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the actual distances inside the orbit can be determined on the basis of gender, length and height of the skull, the width of the orbit, and the orbital coefficient.

Clinical anatomy of the superior orbital fissure and the orbital apex.

BACKGROUND: There are discrepancies between authors as far as topography of superior ophthalmic vein in the orbital apex is concerned. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to determine the location of the structures within the posterior part of the orbit and in the superior orbital fissure. MATERIAL: One hundred preparations of orbits were derived from the corpses sectioned in Forensic Medicine Department, University Medical School in Warsaw, Poland. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomical preparation was performed with use of standard set of microsurgical equipment and operating microscope. RESULTS: Nine various morphological types of the superior orbital fissure were distinguished. Among those were two main categories: type "a" characterised by a clear narrowing within the fissure and type "b" which lacked such narrowing. The type "a" and "b" fissures were also different in length whereby type "b" fissure was significantly shorter. A diversity of positioning of the soft structures within those types was successfully noted. In type "a" the superior ophthalmic vein was located typically, however in type "b" fissures it was significantly more often the lowest structure in the posterior part of the orbital apex (except for muscles and orbital fat). A short case report of patient with superior orbital syndrome was added. CONCLUSION: Position of soft tissue structures in superior orbital fissure depended on its morphological type.

Ludwik Maurycy Hirschfeld (1814-1876).

It is rare to encounter exceptional individuals such as Ludwik Maurycy Hirschfeld. He was born into poverty and early on discovered his passion for medicine, particularly anatomy. His life is a testament to what pure human determination can achieve. He overcame societal and financial obstacles, ultimately becoming a physician, anatomist, and scientist. In 1834, Hirshfeld left Poland for France. His first exposure to medical anatomy came while under the direction of the great anatomist Professor Bourgery at Ecole Pratique de Médicine. In 1848, he earned his degree in medicine and published his work "Des injections capillaires." He coupled his love of anatomy with teaching and research. Hirschfeld's skills, as a dissector, enabled him to prepare specimens for illustration, which produced some of the anatomy atlases of modern times. "The Descriptive Anatomy of the Human Body" is one of his most influential works. Dr. Hirschfeld pioneered the initial illustrations of the meninges of brain. There are many anatomical structures named after him, including Hirschfeld's nerves and anastomoses. Hirshfeld remained as a professor until 1875. His death in 1876 was a great loss to the scientific community. His scientific accomplishments were astounding but he should also be remembered as a great humanitarian, an individual who offered medical treatment to the poor, and who strived to instill in his students a passion for anatomy.

Measurements of pre- and postpubertal human larynx: a cadaver study.

This study investigates the differences in proportion and structure of the larynx in both children and adults, as well as changes which the larynx undergoes during puberty and adolescence. Furthermore, we have tried to answer the question on the existence of laryngeal sexual dismorphism in pre-pubertal (or pubertal) children. Larynges of 20 adults (10 men and 10 women) and 34 larynges of children not more than 12 years of age were acquired from the Forensic Medicine Department of the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. Methods used are based on (1) anatomical preparation, (2) anatomical description and (3) measurements performed with the use of a digital camera and a computer-aided system MULTISCAN. Statistics, the Student's test and Pearson's linear correlation coefficient were calculated. Results show that proportions of the larynx depend on the age of the individual. The younger the individual is the more slender the larynx would be. However, proportion is not gender-related and hence is about the same in both males and females of any given age-group. Nevertheless, basic parameters were larger in males.

[Fibrous dysplasia situated in maxilla--diagnostic and treatment difficulties illustrated with case report]. / Dysplazja wlóknista umiejscowiona w szczece--trudnosci diagnostyczne i problemy lecznicze na przykladzie opisu przypadku.

INTRODUCTION: Fibrous dysplasia is a benign and slowly progressing pathological disorder of bone, in which normal cancellous bone is replaced by immature woven bone and fibrous tissue. The disease is rare and its etiology is unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: On the base of literature review the clinical, radiological and microscopical characteristics of the disease was presented. For illustration of prolongation of this process and the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered in this disease a single case of dysplasia fibrosa was presented also. This is the case of 28 year old man, who is in follow-up for 18 years. RESULTS: In clinical investigation a relief of left malar region and left cheek. In mouth cavity swelling of left maxillary process was observed as well as anterior wall of maxillary sinus. All teeth were in good condition. In CT investigation irregular bone thickenings of anterior and lateral walls of maxillary sinus were visible. In general anesthesia a plastic surgery of the maxilla was performed. In histopathology was observed typical picture of fibrous dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: As a conclusion of this work we would like to state that fibrous dysplasia occurs mainly in young people; clinical and radiological signs of fibrous dysplasia are not sufficient to diagnose this disease: the most important is histopathology result; operative treatment of fibrous dysplasia in a way of tissue modeling allows for restoration of symmetrical face view, but never goes to full healing.

[The Polish anatomical terminology in De ossibus humanis tractatus tres by Jan Ursinus]. / Polska terminologia anatomiczna w dziele Jana Ursinusa De ossibus humanis tractatus tres.

Jan Ursinus was a continuator of the medieval Latin tradition of the glossed medical literature, which in his works was limited to anatomy only. Polish glosses can be considered equivalents to Latin and Greek names and only sometimes we can meet some wider and especially precious polish commentaries. Numerous quotations from works of other authors prove that Ursinus knew a lot of antique and contemporary authors. He described functions of several organs and was acquainted with fundamentals of medicine. Ursinus demonstrated to be good creator of the Polish anatomic terms and his work has been appreciated both in his times and nowadays.

The morphology and morphometry of the foramina of the greater wing of the human sphenoid bone.

The greater wing of the human sphenoid bone is pierced by several foramina, which contain, as a main element, the venous anastomoses between the interior of the skull and the extracranial veins. Since data concerning these foramina are scarce in the literature, studies comprising the frequency of occurrence and morphology of the foramina of the greater wing of the human sphenoid bone were undertaken on 100 macerated skulls. We found that the foramen ovale is divided into 2 or 3 components in 4.5% of cases. Moreover, the borders of the foramen ovale in some skulls were irregular and rough. This may suggest, on radiological images, the presence of morbid changes, which might be the sole anatomical variation. Concurrent with the foramen ovale are accessory foramina. The foramen of Vesalius and the cavernous foramen were present in 17% and 33% of cases, respectively. The foramen of Vesalius was always single and the cavernous foramen also occurred in multiple form. The foramen spinosus and the foramen rotundum occurred as permanent elements of the skulls studied. The mean area of the foramina measured, excluding the foramen ovale, was not considerable, which may suggest that they play a minor role in the dynamics of blood circulation in the venous system of the head.

The morphology of the hypoglossal canal and its size in relation to skull capacity in man and other mammal species.

The hypoglossal canal is a permanent element of the human skull. As well as the hypoglossal nerve, the canal also contains the venous plexus and an arterial branch leading to the dura mater. It emerged from our earlier studies that the venous plexus is a dominant component in this canal. In the present work the morphology and dimensions of the canal were studied on macerated skulls of humans and animals (rhesus monkey, European bison, fox, dog, cat, hare and rat). The hypoglossal canal was found in all the human and animal skulls examined. In both humans and animals the hypoglossal canal was frequently duplicated. The double canal was found in 43% specimens of human skulls. However, no triple division of the hypoglossal canal was found in the material under investigation. It was found that the hypoglossal canal in man, rhesus monkey and European bison had significant dimensions and in fact correlated with the size of skull capacity. This suggests that the hypoglossal canal is an essential venous emissary in man, rhesus monkey and European bison, but that in the remaining species it is of secondary importance in this respect.

Anatomical variants of the cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra in man.

Anatomical variants of the cervical part of the human spine were investigated. Morphological variants were studied on 100 cervical vertebrae (37 female and 63 male). The greatest variability was demonstrated by the first cervical vertebra or atlas. The presence of some accessory bony arches embracing the vertebral artery was observed, namely the posterior bridge restraining the arcuate foramen (13.8%) and the lateral bridge restraining the transversovertical foramen (2%). Split posterior (3%) or anterior (1%) arches of the atlas were also encountered in this material. The superior articular face of the atlas divided into two parts was found in 47.8%. Variants of the remaining cervical vertebrae were limited only to the presence of a division of the transverse process foramina or their incomplete closure. Some of these anatomical variants may be a cause of certain clinical symptoms which have previously been described in the literature.