The use of computer-assisted image analysis in measuring the histological structure of the human median nerve

Background and aim: The aim of this study was to assess the histological structure of the median nerve and its motor branch (number and arrangement of nerve bundles) and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve (on the level of the carpal tunnel). Material and methods: This study has been conducted using median nerves dissected from cadavers stored in a 10% solution of formaldehyde at the Department of Anatomy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and cadavers from the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Jagiellonian University Medical College. After dissection the median nerves were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and histological slides were prepared. These were later photographed (16 x magnification) and analysed using ImageJ software. The research protocol was approved by the Jagiellonian University Ethics Committee (registry KBET/209/B/2002). Results: The studied group comprised 8 women and 22 men (age between 23–92 years), yielding a total of 60 median nerves (30 right vs. 30 left). In 4 (6.67%) cases an accessory motor branch was found. The mean CSA of the median nerve was 0.19 cm2. The median nerves from the right hand had a statistically larger CSA (p = 0.017). The number of nerve bundles in the median nerve varied between 13 to 38 and in the motor branch of the median nerve between 4 to 14. Conclusions: The nerve bundles of the median nerve, at the level of the carpal tunnel, display no particular type of arrangement. ImageJ software proved useful in the assessment of the histological structure of the human median nerve and its motor branc

Destruction of the craniofacial skeleton in the child caused by an orbital tumor

Purpose: The aims of this paper are to describe the morphological alterations within an infant craniofacial skeleton caused by an orbital tumor and present how the bone reacts in contact with a spreading tumor mass. Methods: A study was performed on the dry skull of a child at the age of approximately 2 years. Morphological alterations of the craniofacial skeleton were analysed by visual inspection, and the intracranial cavity was examined with the aid of a digital camera. Subsequently, the skull was examined using computed tomography. Results: The skull was identified as having unilateral symptoms of orbital destruction caused by a malignant tumor, probably retinoblastoma or rhabdomyosarcoma. The left orbit and surrounding bones showed extensive malformation caused by the invading tumor. Profound deformities were also observed in the nasal cavity, which was partially occluded by the collapsed medial wall of the left orbit. The tumor extended to the wall of the orbit, spread out of the orbit, penetrated to the anterior cranial fossa, and probably invaded the brain. Conclusions: Extensive pathological cranial destruction and possible metastases to inner organs suggest that the orbital tumor was the cause of death. Anatomical alterations observed in the craniofacial skeleton indicate a highly aggressive character of the orbital tumor

Median nerve thenar motor branch anatomical variations

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the different types of the median nerve thenar motor branch and to compare them with literature data.Materials and Methods. This study has been conducted using median nerves dissected from cadavers stored in a 10% solution of formaldehyde at the Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College (JUMC) and cadavers from the Department of Forensic Medicine (JUMC). The research protocol was approved by the Jagiellonian University Ethics Committee (registry KBET/209/B/2002).Results. The studied group comprised of 8 (26,7%) women and 22 men (age between 23-92 years), yielding a total of 60 thenar motor branches (30 right vs. 30 left). Forty-seven (78,3%) nerves were classified as extraligamentous, 12 (20%) were subligamentous and 1 (1,7%) was transligamentous. As for the side of origin of the thenar motor branch in 45 cases (75%) it was the radial side and in 2 cases (3,33%) it was the ulnar side.Conclusions. The obtained results confirm that the extraligamentous type of the thenar motor branch is the most common and that the ulnar origin of the thenar motor branch is the rarest