Mucosal perforators from the facial artery.

The cutaneous perforators of the facial artery have been well described, but to our knowledge the oral mucosal perforators have not. We studied 10 facial arteries from 10 hemifaces in 5 cadavers. The arteries were injected with latex, and we studied all perforators that extended from the facial artery and headed directly to the oral mucosa. The diameter and length of the facial artery and its mucosal perforators were measured and compared. We found 52 oral mucosal perforators in the 10 facial arteries injected with latex. Their mean (SD) diameter was 0.5 (0.2) mm and the mean (SD) number/facial artery was 5.2 (1.1). Their mean (SD) length was 16.4 (5.3) mm. Most of those to the cheek were localised between the branching-off points of the inferior and superior labial arteries. The facial artery has perforators to the oral mucosa of the cheek, most of them between the points at which the labial arteries emerge.

Anatomía endoscópica de la región sellar, parasellar y fosa pterigopalatina / Endoscopic Anatomy of the Sellar and Parasellar Regions and Pterygopalatine Fossa

A pesar de que la anatomía no varía, su visión a través de diversos medios (microscopio, endoscopio) ofrece un ángulo que obliga a reinterpretarla para poder adaptar los conceptos y, sobre todo, las distancias a la nueva situación. Sobre la base de los trabajos de A. Alfieri y H.D. Jho se pretende sentar los principios de la anatomía endoscópica de la región que nos ocupa para poder entender mejor los abordajes quirúrgicos que se discuten en los artículos posteriores. La descripción de la pared posterior del seno esfenoidal, dividida en cinco compartimentos verticales: medial, dos paramediales y dos laterales, y de sus contenidos (carótida, nervio óptico, III, IV, V, VI pares craneales), así como la sistematización de los puntos de referencia más significativos, pretenden contribuir a una esquematización que pueda resultar útil en el momento de la cirugía. Asimismo, la descripción de la fosa pterigopalatina y sus relaciones anatómicas, conjuntamente con los puntos de referencia principales, especialmente el canal pterigoideo o vidiano, y el recorrido de la segunda rama del nervio trigémino (V2), deben servir para comprender los abordajes propuestos por Kassam et al y Pasquini et al (AU)

Although anatomy does not change, anatomical concepts periodically require updating as visualization of anatomical structures through various means (microscope, endoscope) provides fresh perspectives. Based on the work of A. Alfieri and H.D. Jho, the present article aims to describe the principles of endoscopic anatomy of the sellar and parasellar regions and pterygopalatine fossa to better understand the surgical approaches discussed in the following chapters. The description of the posterior wall of the sphenoid sinus, divided into five vertical compartments (medial, two paramedial and two lateral) and of its contents (carotid artery, optic nerve, cranial nerves III, IV, V, VI) as well as the classification of the most important reference points aims to contribute to a schemata that could be useful during surgery. Likewise, description of the pterygopalatine fossa and its anatomical relations, together with the main reference points, especially the pterygoid or vidian canal, and the trajectory of the second branch of the trigeminal nerve (V2) should aid understanding of the approaches proposed by Kassam et al and Pasquini et al (AU)

An inconstant ligament in the popliteal region associated to the superior genicular arteries: surgical importance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the dissection of 60 knees of 30 cadavers (13 women and 17 men), a ligament was located in the posterior femur face above the lateral or medial condyle. RESULTS: This ligamentous structure was found in 12 (20%) out of 60 knees studied (38% of the women and 35% of the men). It had a vertical arrangement and a constant direct relation to the superior (lateral or medial) genicular artery, and in no case it appeared as a posterior reinforcement of the capsule. The superior vessels were fixed by this ligament. DISCUSSION: This fixation may provide stability to the vascular tree but it could be a cause of post-surgical hemarthrosis in arthroscopy of the posterior knee area or in posterior or lateral knee approaches or it could be even implicated in vascular injury of the popliteal artery during knee dislocation. CONCLUSION: The objective was to describe this inconstant ligament and to study its clinical relevance for surgical procedures, and particularly for those using the posterior approach to the knee joint.