Analysis of the Peiting Woman Using Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy was applied to the skeletal remains of 13 bog bodies and their bog burial environments. The objective was to create a better understanding of Northern European bog environmental chemistry and its diagenetic effects on interred bog bodies, determine bog body geographic disparity and/or origin, and identify if post-discovery preservation procedures were applied to the bog body remains. This paper summarizes the findings for one of those 13 bog bodies: the Peiting Woman from Bavaria, Germany. The elements analyzed include Antimony, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Lead, Strontium, Titanium, Zinc, and Zirconium

The comparative analysis of two Pre-Roman Iron Age bog bodies from Northwest Germany using portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (PXRFS) is a non-destructive testing method that can offer objective, on-site information concerning elemental composition. The objective was to better understand Northern European bog environmental chemistry and its diagenetic effects on interred bog bodies, and identify post-discovery preservation procedures applied to the remains. This article discusses the findings regarding two of thirteen bog bodies we studied: Husbäke Man and Jührdenerfeld Man.To assess potential bog diagenetic effects, the following elements were analyzed: Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Lead, and Zirconium. The elemental concentrations were also used to assess the application of post-discovery preservation procedures, along with Cobalt, Antimony, and Titanium.The significantly higher elemental concentrations in all elements of interest suggest that elemental incorporation occurred in the bog. In addition, the readings taken from Jührdenerfeld Man demonstrate exceedingly high elemental values for Cobalt, supporting post-discovery elemental incorporation.PXRFS provides valuable information about the interactions between the bog environment and bog body remains, and can identify post-discovery preservative treatment implementation. Thus, PXRFS can improve comprehension of archival collection history of bog bodies, and can offer the possibility of reversing or lessening the effects of detrimental preservative treatments to the bog bodies

Axillary Arch (Langer’s Arch) in an 80 year-old White Male Cadaver

Recognizing the presence of an Axillary arch (Langer’s arch or muscle) can be important for clinical associations, such as when patients present with compression neuropathies and syndromes related to the upper extremity. Its presence is also relevant during surgical interventions involving the axillary fossa, such as sentinel node biopsy axillary lymph node dissection and pectoralis muscle flaps. While neglecting to identify variations rarely leads to an increase in mortality, it is essential to identify for clinical relevance. It is similarly important to anatomical instructors in the education of future medical providers. During cadaveric dissection of fifty cadavers, we observed a unilateral Axillary arch (Langer’s arch or muscle) found on the left side of an 80 year-old White Male cadaver inserting onto the tendon of the pectoralis major muscle. This anatomical variation is commonly referenced in the literature for its clinical significance. Operating surgeons, vascular interventionalists, and oncologists should be aware of this anatomical variant as it occurs while treating diverse patient populations

Bifurcation of the Brachial Artery into Brachioradial and Brachioulnar Arteries in the Proximal Arm: Case Report and Clinical Significance

During anatomical dissection of fifty donors in the 2020 undergraduate first-year anatomy course at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a high origin of the radial and ulnar arteries, also known as a brachioradial artery and a brachioulnar artery, was observed on the left arm of a 90 year-old White female donor. The bifurcation of the brachial artery occurred in the proximal third of the arm. Both the left brachioradial and left brachioulnar arteries ran superficial and medial to the biceps brachii muscle. The brachioulnar artery continues as the UA in the forearm, ran superficial and lateral to the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, traversed the flexor retinaculum, and continued to form the superficial arterial palmar arch. The brachioradial artery ran deep to the pronator teres muscle and continued as the RA in the forearm. It presented with an atypical branching pattern and was tortuous until it reached the hand. On the dorsum of the hand, the radial artery runs superficial to the first dorsal interosseous muscle, parallel to the first metacarpal bone. It also reached the palmar side of the hand in an unusual manner. Medical professionals, especially radiologists, orthopedic and vascular surgeons, need to be aware of these variations to avoid iatrogenic injuries during normal procedures, such as venipuncture and intravenous injections. Knowledge of these variations is also important during invasive procedures, such as elbow reconstructive surgery, percutaneous brachial catheterization, and when creating an arteriovenous fistula using the radial artery. When such variations are suspected, Doppler and angiogram studies are necessary

Accessory Lateral Head of the Right Gastrocnemius Muscle in a 65 year-old White Male Donor

The three muscles that form the calf muscle or triceps surae include the soleus muscle, the gastrocnemius muscle, and the plantaris muscle. Generally, the gastrocnemius muscle consists of a larger medial head and relatively smaller lateral head. It is responsible for plantar flexion of the foot. The lateral head arises from the posterior lateral femoral condyle and the larger medial head originates from the posterior medial femoral condyle. The medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius muscle along with the soleus muscle combine to form the Achilles tendon, which inserts onto the posterior surface of the calcaneus. Since the gastrocnemius muscle crosses three joints including the knee and subtalar joints, it can be vulnerable to injury, especially in mature athletes who experience sudden and swift changes in direction associated with muscular overstretching. Other causes of gastrocnemius muscle injury include maximal knee extension and full ankle dorsiflexion. Since the muscle is already prone to injury, anatomical variations of the gastrocnemius muscles may be symptomatic. With muscle variations, there are potential implications and effects on the other structures within the popliteal fossa. Many different anatomical variations have been identified during routine dissections and reported in the literature. Understanding details of these variations is important for diagnostic, surgical and clinical practice and patient management. Here we report on a 65-year-old White Male cadaveric donor with an accessory lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle found incidentally during a routine dissection

Overall Prevalence and Clinical Significance of a Retroesophageal Right Subclavian with a Non-Recurrent Right Laryngeal Nerve in an 83-year-old and a 93-year-old White Male Donor

Head and neck anatomic variations are common and generally go undetected, but may be clinically significant or have important surgical consequences. Knowledge of various abnormalities is important for clinical decision making and the avoidance of iatrogenic complications. Anomalies of the aortic arch and its various branches are relatively common. However, rare variations with profound clinical sequelae can occur. During recent cadaveric dissection, we identified an 83-year-old and a 93-year-old White male donor who both had a right retroesophageal subclavian artery with an associated non-recurrent right laryngeal nerve. Lack of knowledge of this anatomic variation can directly result in severe consequences for patients and lead to major morbidity. Understanding this variation and recognizing it will be important for anatomists, radiologists and surgeons

Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy and its research applications to Northern European bog bodies

To expand the understanding of Northern European bog environmental chemistry and its diagenetic effects on the bones of human remains interred within them, also known as bog bodies, this dissertation focuses on the application of portable X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy to both the skeletal remains and the surrounding burial environment of thirteen bog bodies; twelve from raised bogs, and one from a fen bog. This non-destructive testing method can offer objective, on-site information that provides environmental understanding of bog body burial sites. Portable XRF Spectroscopy can help to determine the difference between the diagenetic effects of a raised bog compared to a fen bog, and the geographic origin and/or disparity in environmental habitation of bog bodies early and late in life. In addition, one can use portable XRF Spectroscopy to identify whether housing curators and staff applied post-discovery preservation procedures to bog bodies. Currently, Strontium (Sr) is the most reliable element of interest in geographic origin and migration research. Sr acts like Calcium (Ca), incorporating preferentially into bone and tooth enamel at sites of increased osteogenesis. Comparing Sr concentrations from the bones and teeth could greatly assist in determining whether the bog body migrated between infancy and death, even possibly his/her birthplace. Therefore, Sr elemental concentrations were measured using a portable XRF Innov-X Alpha Series spectrometer for the bog body bone and teeth, as well as the soil from the bog discovery sites. To assess potential diagenetic effects of the bog in the form of elemental leaching and incorporation, elemental measurements were also taken from the bone, teeth, and soil for the following elements: Bromine (Br), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Rubidium (Rb), Zinc (Zn), and Zirconium (Zr). These elements are also measured to assess post-discovery preservation procedures applied to the bog bodies. To enable the most accurate value ranges of elemental concentrations as measured in parts per million (ppm), each body was scanned repeatedly at various pre-determined osteological landmarks. The skeletal areas scanned included any present/visible dentition, as well as bone regions found within the crania and postcrania. Corings from discovery sites were measured at 10 cm increments to provide elemental concentrations at different depths within the soil. This provided an elemental concentration range for each element of interest that could be easily compared to the elemental concentration range collected from the bog bodies. If soil samples could not be taken directly from the discovery sites, geochemical soil data standards collected by the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources were alternatively used. Additionally, skeletal abnormalities discovered in the Windeby Child were compared to areas of known bog compression on other bog bodies studied to determine whether the anomalies present in the child were pseudopathological or pathological in nature. Several theories on the possible causes of these skeletal abnormalities are postulated in this paper. Portable XRF spectroscopy helps to provide information regarding the interaction between the bog environment and the remains of bog bodies, as well as to identify post-discovery preservative treatment implemented on the bodies during the conservation process. However, Sr bone and tooth analysis is not applicable to geographic origin and migration studies because of the diagenetic effects of the bog. Portable XRF elemental measurements for Br, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Zn, and Zr suggest elemental incorporation occurred in both the fen and raised bog bodies, except for Zn in some of the raised bog bodies and the fen bog body. Since Sr acts like Ca in bone, Sr was leached from the raised bog bodies during the decalcification process, and incorporated in the fen bog body during fossilization. It is possible that incorporation also occurred in the raised bog bodies because of free Sr ionic exchange that created an equilibrium between the Sr bog levels and its associated bog body, resulting in similar Sr concentrations. The wooden coffin containing the remains of Peiting Woman may have impeded the ability for both leaching and free Sr ionic exchange to occur. This could explain the similar Sr values between her teeth and bone, and their difference from the surrounding bog levels. Bernuthsfeld Man, Jührdenerfeld Man, Kayhausen Boy, Moora Girl, Peiting Woman, Roter Franz, and the Windeby Child all demonstrate post-discovery preservative implementation. Exorbitantly high elemental values were found at specific sites on each of the following bodies: Bernuthsfeld Man, Jührdenerfeld Man, Peiting Woman, Roter Franz, and the Windeby Child. Such values suggest that post-discovery elemental incorporation occurred. Post-discovery elemental leaching occurred in Kayhausen Boy and specific bones of Moora Girl due to their submerged preservative treatment in ethylene glycol for Kayhausen Boy and distilled water for specific bones of Moora Girl. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

A Possible Accessory Muscle of the Serratus Posterior Superior Muscle

Anatomical variation is defined as the normal range of possibilities in the topography and morphology of body structures. In contrast, an anomaly is any structural or functional anatomical finding beyond the normal range of possibilities. This case study describes a muscular anomaly found in a 73-year-old preserved Caucasian male. We observed a left-sided anomalous muscle originating from the transverse process of the C1 (Atlas) vertebra and inserting onto the proximal attachment of the serratus posterior superior (SPS) muscle at the C7 level. We suggest that this anomaly is a result of early embryological development and hypothesize that the atypical neck muscle may reinforce the action of the SPS. This finding is rare and no reference of it can be found in the literature. Reporting anatomical anomalies is important for the medical literature and education

Frequency and Clinical Review of the Aberrant Obturator Artery: A Cadaveric Study

The occurrence of an aberrant obturator artery is common in human anatomy. Detailed knowledge of this anatomical variation is important for the outcome of pelvic and groin surgeries requiring appropriate ligation. Familiarity with the occurrence of an aberrant obturator artery is equally important for instructors teaching pelvic anatomy to students. Case studies highlighting this vascular variation provide anatomical instructors and surgeons with accurate information on how to identify such variants and their prevalence. Seven out of eighteen individuals studied (38.9%) exhibited an aberrant obturator artery, with two of those individuals presenting with bilateral aberrant obturator arteries (11.1%). Six of these individuals had an aberrant obturator artery that originated from the deep inferior epigastric artery (33.3%). One individual had an aberrant obturator artery that originated directly from the external iliac artery (5.6%)

Palmaris Longus Inversus Muscle Present Bilaterally in an 82 Year-old White Female Cadaver and Unilaterally in a 68 Year-old White Female Cadaver

The palmaris longus muscle is one of the most variable muscles in the human body. Palmaris longus muscle anatomical variations include reversed (palmaris longus inversus muscle), duplicated, triplicated, bifid, hypertrophied, accessory (additional) slips, and/or complete absence. During anatomical dissection of fifty cadavers in the 2019 undergraduate first-year anatomy course at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, we found a palmaris longus inversus muscle bilaterally on an 82 year-old White female cadaver and a unilateral palmaris longus inversus muscle on the right forearm of a 68 year-old White female cadaver. Due to the prevalence of anatomical variations in the palmaris longus muscle, adequate knowledge of such prevalence and clinical significance is needed in multiple medical specialties for its reconstructive use, and the possibility and treatment of clinical syndromes. An accessory (additional) palmaris longus muscle, hypertrophied palmaris longus muscle, hypertrophied palmaris longus inversus muscle, or just the presence of a palmaris longus inversus muscle, can all cause compression to adjacent neurovascular structures, such as the median nerve, ulnar nerve, ulnar artery, and/or the anterior interosseous artery, in the distal forearm and wrist. Palmaris longus tendons are used as grafts in various surgeries, such as extensor tendon repair in rheumatoid arthritis patients, injuries of flexor tendons and repair, lip augmentation, reconstructive hand surgery, frontalis suspension sling in ptosis correction, plastic surgery, and pulley reconstructions. Surgeons, physicians, radiologists, and physiotherapists must be knowledgeable of the many PLM anatomical variations and their possible contributions to pathological processes