[Ectopic spleens. About a spleen of the right iliac fossa (author's transl)]. / Rates ectopiques. A propos d'une rate de la fosse iliaque droite.

A rare case of the presence of the spleen in the right iliac fossa is reported. The frequency and signs of ectopic and supernumerary spleens are described, the latter requiring differentiation from peritoneal splenosis. An embryological explanation for the presence of the spleen in the right iliac fossa is suggested.

[Anatomical study of the twelfth intercostal nerve and oblique lumbotomies (author's transl)]. / Etude anatomique du douzième nerf intercostal et des lombotomies obliques. Explication clinique de quelques névralgies postopératoires.

After a very precise anatomical review, the authors report the results of an anatomo-radiological study involving 244 urography films. The usual length of the 12th rib is 11 cm, with a width of 1 cm in the female and 1.5 cm in the male. The costo-lumbar angle was 45 degrees in 3/4 of the films. The kidney was often lower in the female than in the male. The renal artery was almost always given off at the level of the 12th rib or below, whilst at the level of the hilum, the renal artery and 12th rib having crossed, the artery was always above the 12th rib. Study of 173 usable cases of patients operated upon by lumbotomy revealed the following data: --lumbotomies on the 12th rib never opened the pleura, and gave rise to transient wall pain (7%) and one single case of abdominal wall hypotonia (1.4%) with no incisional hernias; --lumbotomies over the 11th rib were associated with 13% of cases of damage to the pleura, 16% of spontaneously resolving wall pain, 7 cases of prolonged parietal hypotonia and one incisional hernia out of 60 lumbotomies; --lumbotomies sub-jacent to the 12th rib were associated with residual abdominal wall pain in 3 cases out of 16. Lumbotomies over the 11th rib are associated with the risk of section of the superficial and deep abdominal branch of the 12th nerve and are hence those exposing to the greatest risk of abdominal wall hypotonia and neuralgia. Incision over the 12th rib would thus appear to be that associated with the least abdominal wall complications.

[Electromyography of the leg. Study during various segmental movements]. / Electromyocartographie de la jambe. Etude au cours de différents mouvements segmentaires.

Using anatomical landmarks as fixed points, the authors have squared the cutaneous surface ot the leg into areas which cover the following superficial muscles: m. gastrocnemius, caput mediales et caput laterales, m. peroneus longus, m. tibialis anterior, m. soleus. The electrical surface activity, collected in these areas for some segmented movements (dorsal and plantar flexions with and without load) was integrated and quantified. The individual and inter-individual variability in electrical activity was obtained from six subjects and discussed. The typical electromyography of the leg was established for the four segmental movements investigated. This analysis had also lead to determine the most suitable electrode site for each of the superficial muscles. This study confirms the functional role classically attributed to these various muscles.

[Fossae, recesses and culs-de-sac in the pelvic peritoneum of women (author's transl)]. / Fosses, récessus et culs-de-sac du péritoine pelvien chez la femme.

The pelvic peritoneum in women is peculiarly irregular because of the numerous folds, fossae, recesses and culs-de-sac that exist in it. Blood and purulent serous fluids occur in the abdomino-pelvic cavity and stagnate in these sites. Since they are particularly to be found around the adnexae they can give rise to secondary infection occurring as a result of primary adnexal infection. Furthermore, when serous fluid is regurgitated into the tubo-ovarian hollow through the abdominal os of the tube and into the pertoneum around the ovary, adhesions and endometrial deposits occurring in this area can be explained. Each one of these structures should be systematically explored, particularly when hystero-salpingographies and laparoscopies are being carried out. Furthermore, they should be cleaned out very meticulously after all conservative surgery to prevent the formation of adhesions.