Persistent sciatic vein.

BACKGROUND: Venous anomalies of the lower extremity are a challenge when found as rare variations. Physicians should be aware of morphological variations in this region for correct diagnosis and management of diseases such as deep vein thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the routine dissection of the lower extremities of a Caucasian male cadaver, a case of persistent sciatic vein was found. RESULTS: A persistent sciatic vein originating from the saphenopopliteal junction coursed proximally and laterally to enter into the adductor magnus muscle, at the right side. Running through the fibres of the adductor magnus anteriorly, the variant vein drained into the deep femoral vein just medial to the vastus medialis muscle. CONCLUSIONS: As being a rare congenital vascular anomaly, the persistent sciatic vein should be correctly diagnosed and defined during the radiologic assessments, surgical interventions and blockades for better outcomes and lesser complications.

Talon cusp: a morphological dental anomaly.

Talon cusp is a rare developmental anomaly that occurs most commonly on the lingual side of the incisors. It may cause various clinical problems, such as occlusal interference, irritation of the tongue, pulpal necrosis, caries and periodontal problems. Genetics is thought to be a major cause for the occurrence of this anomaly. This article reports three cases of talon cusp in three members of the same family. Clinical and radiographic findings of talon cusp in two siblings and the mother are presented. Early diagnosis of talon cusp helps in selecting the correct treatment procedure and avoiding complications.

Displacement of a maxillary third molar into the buccal space: anatomical implications apropos of a case.

A few cases of accidental displacement of molars into adjacent anatomical spaces, such as the infratemporal fossa, the pterygomandibular space, the maxillary sinus, or the lateral pharyngeal space, during surgical interventions have been reported. This report describes the displacement of a maxillary third molar into the buccal space and discusses the anatomical implications.

Future perspectives of anatomy in dental education: quo vadis? / Perspectivas futuras de la anatomía en la educación dental: ¿quo vadis?

Anatomists have become familiar with an ongoing debate about the integration of basic sciences into the clinical context or vice versa. Although various educational modalities in dental school curricula and changes in curricular strategies challenge anatomists, the priorities in teaching anatomy and the emergency of presenting fundamental concepts in order to integrate students' basic science skills into the clinic led educators to develop new teaching methods. A search for improved efficiency and impact of the presentation of knowledge to the students in order to foster positive feedback should be one of the major responsibilities of the educators in basic sciences. New gold standards, such as computer-based learning tools and computer-assisted instruction laboratories, may provide trigger points for the perception of the audience in dental faculties. In the light of these considerations, Anatomy Society should rapidly communicate future perspectives.

Los anatomistas comenzaron a familiarizarse con un debate sobre la integración de las ciencias básicas en el contexto clínico, o viceversa. Aunque diversas modalidades educativas en los programas de la escuela de odontología y estrategias del plan de estudios anatómicos han cambiado, las prioridades en la enseñanza de la anatomía y la emergencia de presentar los conceptos fundamentales para integrar los conocimientos de ciencias básicas de los estudiantes en la clínica de llevar a los educadores a desarrollar nuevos métodos de enseñanza. La búsqueda en la mejora de la eficiencia y el impacto de la presentación de los conocimientos a los estudiantes con el fin de originar en la evaluación una retroalimentación positiva debe ser una de las principales responsabilidades de los educadores en ciencias básicas. Los nuevos gold standarts, como herramientas informáticas de aprendizaje y laboratorios de instrucción asistida por computadora pueden ser los puntos gatillo para la percepción de la audiencia en las facultades de odontología. A la luz de estas consideraciones, la Sociedad Anatómica debe designar urgentemente perspectivas futuras.

The position of the mandibular canal and histologic feature of the inferior alveolar nerve.

The inferior alveolar nerve is the one of the large branches of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. It is vulnerable during surgical procedures of the mandible. Despite its importance, no anatomical and histological examination has been conducted to provide a detailed cross-sectional morphology of the mandibular canal according to dental status. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the position of the mandibular canal through direct measurement and to determine the branches of the inferior alveolar nerve through histologic examination. The area between the anterior margin of the third molar and the anterior margin of the second premolar of dentulous, partially dentulous, and edentulous hemimandible specimens (n = 49) from 26 human cadavers was serially sectioned into seven segments, and specific distances were measured using digital calipers. Following this, 5-microm cross-sections were prepared along the mandibular canal and mental foramen, and examined by fluorescence microscopy. The mandibular canal was located at a mean distance of 10.52 mm above the inferior margin of the mandible. The mean maximum diameters of the mandibular canal, inferior alveolar nerve, inferior alveolar artery, and inferior alveolar vein were 2.52, 1.84, 0.42, and 0.58 mm, respectively. This study found that the inferior alveolar nerve often gives rise to several branches at each level (range 0-3). To minimize the risk of injury, knowledge of the small branches of the nerve and of the detailed findings regarding the position of the mandibular canal reported here should be considered when planning mandibular surgery, especially during implant placement.

Length of the styloid process and anatomical implications for Eagle's syndrome.

The styloid process is a bony projection, located just anterior to the stylomastoid foramen, the normal length of which is approximately 20-25 mm. Elongation of the process may cause various clinical symptoms such as neck and cervicofacial pain, described as Eagle's syndrome. The present study aimed to determine the mean length of the styloid process on cadavers, panoramic radiographs, and dry skulls, and to investigate the incidence of the elongated styloid process, while assessing the elongation in relation to Eagle's syndrome. When the measurements from the panoramic radiographs were assessed, the mean length of the styloid processes in males and females on the right and left sides were found to be the following: 25.78 + or - 5.68 mm; 22.69 + or - 3.68 mm, 25.80 + or - 5.75 mm; and 22.75 + or - 3.65 mm, respectively. The males had greater styloid process lengths than the females, and the differences in length on both the right and left sides were statistically significant. Descriptive statistics and comparison results according to age groups were determined. There was no statistically significant difference between right or left styloid process lengths according to age groups. The mean length of the styloid process of the cadavers and dry bones was 22.54 + or - 4.24, and there was no significant difference between the right and left sides of the cadavers and dry bones. The incidence of the elongated styloid process was determined as 3.3%, and the elongations revealed a female dominance. The average length of the elongated styloid process was 36.06 + or - 6.12 mm, while the mean length of the styloid processes of the subjects reporting Eagle's syndrome was 40 + or - 4.72 mm. The results of this morphological study will assist clinicians in the diagnosis of Eagle's syndrome.

The effects of ovariectomy and naproxen treatment on the strength of femoral midshaft and molar alveolar region in rats / Efectos de la ovariectomía y tratamiento con naproxeno sobre la resistencia de la parte media de la diáfisis femoral y la región alveolar molar en ratas

The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of ovariectomy and naproxen treatment on both femoral and mandibular bone mass and biomechanical competence. Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into five groups: baseline, sham ovariectomized, ovariectomized, sham ovariectomized + naproxen treatment, ovariectomized + naproxen treatment. Mandibles and femurs of the rats were extracted and bone mineral density of the extracted specimens were determined. The volumes and ash weights of the femurs and mandibles were estimated. Maximum loads of the femurs and mandibles were determined by using a three point bending test. Ovariectomy decreased bone mineral density of the femoral midshaft, however naproxen prevented this decrease. Neither ovariectomy nor naproxen treatment affected the BMD in the molar alveolar region. Maximum load was found significantly decreased in the femoral midshaft, however, naproxen treatment prevented this decrease. Maximum load of the molar alveolar region did not significantly change. Naproxen prevents the strength characteristics of femoral midshaft afforded by ovariectomy. However, neither ovariectomy nor naproxen has an effect on the molar alveolar region of the mandible.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar los efectos de la ovariectomía y el tratamiento con naproxeno sobre la masa y la competencia biomecánica del fémur y hueso mandibular. Fueron utilizadas ratas Sprague-Dawley, la que se dividieron en cinco grupos: referencia, ovariectomizadas simuladas, ovariectomizadas, ovariectomizadas simuladas + tratamiento naproxeno, ovariectomizadas + tratamiento naproxeno. Las mandíbulas y los fémures de las ratas fueron extraídos y se determinó la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) de las muestras extraídas. Los volúmenes y pesos de la ceniza fueron estimados. Las cargas máximas de las mandíbulas y fémures se determinaron utilizando un ensayo de flexión de tres puntos. La ovariectomía disminuyó la densidad mineral ósea de la diáfisis media del fémur; sin embargo, el naproxeno impidió esta disminución. Ninguna ovariectomía sin tratamiento de naproxeno afectó a la DMO en la región alveolar molar. La carga máxima se encontró significativamente disminuida en las diáfisis femoral media, pero por el tratamiento de naproxeno no se produjo esta disminución. La carga máxima de la región alveolar molar no cambió en ninguna condición. El naproxeno previene los cambios de resistencia causados por la ovariectomía de la diáfisis media del fémur. Sin embargo, ni la ovariectomía ni el naproxeno tienen un efecto en la región alveolar molar de la mandíbula.