Absence of musculocutaneous nerve with variations in course and distribution of the median nerve.

Variations in the brachial plexus and its terminal branches are not uncommon. A communicating branch arising from the musculocutaneous nerve to the median nerve is a frequent variation, but complete merging of musculocutaneous nerve into the median nerve is very rare. Here, we observed variations in the origin, course and distribution of the median nerve in the left upper limb. The musculocutaneous nerve was absent. The median nerve was formed in the upper part of the arm, in front of the brachial artery. The median nerve supplied the biceps, coracobrachialis and brachialis muscles and gave the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm. The present report provides evidence of variation in important nerves of the anterior compartment of the arm.

Study on branching pattern of aortic arch in Indian.

Knowledge of the branching pattern of aortic arch is important during supra-aortic angiography, aortic instrumentation, thoracic and neck surgery. The purpose of this study is to describe different branching pattern of arch of aorta in Indian subjects, in order to offer useful data to anatomists, radiologists, vascular surgeons while relating it to the embryological basis. Seventy five arches of adult Indian cadavers were exposed and their branches examined during cadaveric dissection in the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Nagpur. The usual three-branched aortic arch was found in 58 cadavers (77.3%); the 11 (14.66%) remaining aortic arch showed only two branches, out of which one was a common trunk, which incorporated the brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid and other left subclavian artery and 6 (8%) aortic arches showed direct arch origin of the left vertebral artery. Although the variations are usually asymptomatic, they may cause dyspnoea, dysphasia, intermittent claudication, misinterpretation of radiological examinations and complications during neck and thorax surgery. Knowledge of different patterns of arch of aorta is critical when invading the arch of aorta and its branches by instruments, as all these areas are delicate.

Estimation of stature from maxillo-facial anthropometry in a central Indian population.

BACKGROUND: For establishing identity, stature is an important parameter in medico-legal and forensic examination. AIMS: To estimate stature from facial parameters. SETTING AND DESIGN: Prospective study conducted from December 2007 to September 2008 in the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Nagpur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 470 healthy medical students were taken, comprising 260 males and 210 females in the age group of 18 to 24 years. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed using regression analysis and correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The average height of males and females was 170.97 (± 6.80) cm and 156.89 (± 5.89) cm respectively. It was observed that in males the total facial height had greater correlation with stature (r = 0.19) and had standard error of ±6.68 cm. In females, nasal height had greater correlation with stature (r = 0.19) and had standard error of ±5.78 cm CONCLUSION: It can be stated that percutaneous facial dimensions are not good predictors of accurate stature estimation and can be used when other parameters are not available.