Discrepancies in Knee Joint Moments Using Common Anatomical Frames Defined by Different Palpable Landmarks

The aim was to investigate the effects of three anatomical frames using palpable anatomical landmarks of the knee on the net knee joint moments. The femoral epicondyles, femoral condyles, and tibial ridges were used to define the different anatomical frames and the segment end points of the distal femur and proximal tibia, which represent the origin of the tibial coordinate system. Gait data were then collected using the calibrated anatomical system technique (CAST), and the external net knee joint moments in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes were calculated based upon the three anatomical frames. Peak knee moments were found to be significantly different in the sagittal plane by approximately 25% (p ≤0.05), but no significant differences were seen in the coronal or transverse planes. Based on these findings it is important to consider the definition of anatomical frames and be aware that the use of numerous anatomical landmarks around the knee can have significant effects on knee joint moments

Anatomical curve identification

Methods for capturing images in three dimensions are now widely available, with stereo-photogrammetry and laser scanning being two common approaches. In anatomical studies, a number of landmarks are usually identified manually from each of these images and these form the basis of subsequent statistical analysis. However, landmarks express only a very small proportion of the information available from the images. Anatomically defined curves have the advantage of providing a much richer expression of shape. This is explored in the context of identifying the boundary of breasts from an image of the female torso and the boundary of the lips from a facial image. The curves of interest are characterised by ridges or valleys. Key issues in estimation are the ability to navigate across the anatomical surface in three-dimensions, the ability to recognise the relevant boundary and the need to assess the evidence for the presence of the surface feature of interest. The first issue is addressed by the use of principal curves, as an extension of principal components, the second by suitable assessment of curvature and the third by change-point detection. P-spline smoothing is used as an integral part of the methods but adaptations are made to the specific anatomical features of interest. After estimation of the boundary curves, the intermediate surfaces of the anatomical feature of interest can be characterised by surface interpolation. This allows shape variation to be explored using standard methods such as principal components. These tools are applied to a collection of images of women where one breast has been reconstructed after mastectomy and where interest lies in shape differences between the reconstructed and unreconstructed breasts. They are also applied to a collection of lip images where possible differences in shape between males and females are of interest

Anatomical information science

The Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA) is a map of the human body. Like maps of other sorts – including the map-like representations we find in familiar anatomical atlases – it is a representation of a certain portion of spatial reality as it exists at a certain (idealized) instant of time. But unlike other maps, the FMA comes in the form of a sophisticated ontology of its objectdomain, comprising some 1.5 million statements of anatomical relations among some 70,000 anatomical kinds. It is further distinguished from other maps in that it represents not some specific portion of spatial reality (say: Leeds in 1996), but rather the generalized or idealized spatial reality associated with a generalized or idealized human being at some generalized or idealized instant of time. It will be our concern in what follows to outline the approach to ontology that is represented by the FMA and to argue that it can serve as the basis for a new type of anatomical information science. We also draw some implications for our understanding of spatial reasoning and spatial ontologies in general

ROLE OF ANATOMICAL OBSTRUCTION IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF CHRONIC SINUSITIS

Sinusitis is a commonly diagnosed condition in the general population.This article is a study to asses the role of anatomical obstruction in the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis,based on symptomatology and radiological findings of the patients.The frequency of major anatomical variants like deviated nasal septum,concha bullosa and paradoxical middle turbinate leading to chronic sinusitis have been analyzed.Most of the time the obstruction at osteomeatal complex leading to chronic sinusitis is caused by more than one anatomical factor. 

The Role of Definitions in Biomedical Concept Representation

The Foundational Model (FM) of anatomy, developed as an anatomical enhancement of UMLS, classifies anatomical entities in a structural context. Explicit definitions have played a critical role in the establishment of FM classes. Essential structural properties that distinguish a group of anatomical entities serve as the differentiae for defining classes. These, as well as other structural attributes, are introduced as template slots in Protege, a frame-based knowledge acquisition system, and are inherited by descendants of the class. A set of desiderata has evolved during the instantiation of the FM for formulating definitions. We contend that 1. these desiderata generalize to non-anatomical domains and 2. satisfying them in constituent vocabularies of UMLS would enhance the quality of information retrievable through UMLS