The Terminologia Anatomica matters: examples from didactic, scientific, and clinical practice

The proper usage of the anatomical terminology is of paramount importance to all medical professionals. Although a multitude of studies have been devoted to issues associated with the use and application of the recent version of the anatomical terminology in both theoretical medicine and clinical practice, there are still many unresolved problems such as confusing terms, inconsistencies, and errors, including grammar and spelling mistakes. The aim of this article is to describe the current situation of the anatomical terminology and its usage in practice, as well as explain why it is so important to use precise, appropriate, and valid anatomical terms during the everyday communication among physicians from all medical branches. In this review, we discuss some confusing, obsolete, and erroneous terms that are still commonly used by many clinicians, and surgeons in particular, during the process of diagnosis and treatment. The use of these ambiguous, erroneous, and obsolete terms enhances the risk of miscommunication. We also provide some edifying examples from everyday clinical practice

Development of the descending colon during the human foetal period

The growth, changes in shape, topography and relation to the peritoneum of the descending colon were assessed on the basis of material taken from 178 foetuses of both sexes, aged from 72 to 236 days of pregnancy. The statistical analysis method demonstrated that the descending colon growth process occurs about a month earlier in female foetuses as compared to male ones. From the statistical point of view, the longitudinal growth of the descending colon significantly slows down in the 7th and 8th months of pregnancy, while the width of this part of the large intestine increases sharply towards the end of the foetal development period. The statistically important process of the descending colon rising over the surface of the left kidney and adrenal gland was noticed in male foetuses. This occurs approximately one month earlier in female foetuses as compared to males. The ascent of this part of the colon is accompanied by a change in its shape from straight, to curved and, finally, to wavy in the oldest age group of male foetuses. The changes in relation to the peritoneum are manifest in a gradual change in the position of this section of the intestine from the intraperitoneal, where more than 40% of the cases examined had a fully movable mesentery, to the extraperitoneal, with 14% of foetuses having a mesentery in the 8th month of pregnancy

A contribution to the discussion concerning the variability of the third peroneal muscle: an anatomical analysis on the basis of foetal material

The aim of the work was to make a systemic study of the variability of the human musculus peroneus tertius during the foetal period. Examination was made of 193 foetuses of ages ranging from 84 to 256 days after conception. The results obtained indicated that the musculus peroneus tertius was present in 83.16% of the human foetuses studied and that its intrauterine development was progressive and almost proportional. Previous studies have not revealed dimorphic or bilateral differences with respect to any of the features examined. On the basis of the examinations and bibliographical data a uniform typology of the musculus peroneus tertius variants was created and three final types were distinguished: the pithecogenic (44% cases), eugenic (34% cases) and progenic (22% cases)

Musculus peroneus longus in fetal period

The lateral compartment of the leg, due to its distal and concurrent superficial positioning, is a multiple trauma site. Detailed knowledge of compartimentum lateralis cruris (CLC) structure is crucial for physicians. Musculus peroneus longus (MPL) is located within the structures of the CLC the most superficially. There is a lot of data on the morphology of the MPL but there is no publication analysing in detail its anatomy in the foetal period. The aim of the study was to determine the variability of metric and morphological parameters of MPL in a studied period of prenatal ontogenesis. The analysis included 207 human fetuses (101 males and 106 females)) at calendar age from 113 to 222 days The analysed material comes from the local anatomy collection. Fetuses were stored in a typical preservation solutions. Access to the muscle was obtained on the basis of standard preparation techniques. The authors evaluated the metric parameters of the muscle showing the presence of variable dynamics of metric increments of the examined muscle in particular age classes. In the studied period of prenatal ontogenesis, the features of MPL increase by about 60% in the length and width dimension and by about 100% in the thickness dimension The topography of the initial and final muscle attachment was also evaluated. Statistically significant dimorphic differences were found in some aspects of muscle attachment topography. The analysis of the place of the origin and insertion of MPL showed a relatively large variety of these features

Anatomical analysis of preangular mandibular notch in humans

The authors have analysed in detail the mandibular preangular notch on the basis of 273 human cadaver mandibles. They have revealed that the pregonial notch is present in almost 90% of cases and that it is generally asymmetric and elliptical in shape. The depth and length of the anterior part of the notch is greater in males. Moreover, the preangular notch depth is greater on the right side (regardless of sex). Knowledge of the preangular notch anatomy can be useful for surgeons during reconstructive and plastic procedures on the mandibular shaft

Topography of the common fibular nerve terminal division in human fetuses

Background: The progress of pediatric surgery and increasingly better diagnosis of fetal defects require detailed knowledge of human developmental anatomy. Precise knowledge of the anatomy of innervation of the lower extremities corresponds to this subject and is not only cognitive but also clinically important. The end of the common fibular nerve is superficially located in the area exposed to frequent injuries as well as in the area subject to possible surgical repair procedures. Materials and methods: The analysis was carried out on 200 human foetuses aged from the 113th day to 222nd day of foetal life. The study material is a part of local fetal collection. The study incorporated the following methods: anthropological, preparational and image acquisition which was acquired with the use of high-resolution digital camera. Statistical analysis was carried out with the use of STATISTICA package. Results: Based on the research results the new typology of the examined nerve was determined. The head of the fibula was the criterion: (i) high division – above the head of the fibula (1%); (ii) intermediate division – at the height of the head of the fibula (34%); (iii) low division – below the head of the fibula (65%). The mathematical analysis did not reveal statistically significant bilateral and gender differences. Moreover the additional branch was observed in 30% of fetuses, regardless of age class. This branch occurred in 50% of cases in both sides of the fetus. This nerve was defined as the accessory fibular nerve (nervus fibularis/peroneus accessorius). Conclusions: The created unique typology of the terminal division of common fibular nerve is an important supplement to the anatomical knowledge and at the same time, due to the peripheral and superficial location of the described structures, it has a relatively high clinical significance

Branching patterns of the foetal popliteal artery

Background: The objective of the study is to evaluate the popliteal artery topography and the origin variability of its branches in human foetuses at the gestational age of from 4 to 9 months. The basis for the analysis are direct observations of classic anatomic dissections of the popliteal fossa. Possible dimorphic and bilateral differen- ces, as well as the gestational age variability at the foetal period, were considered. A typology of popliteal artery branches will be made on the basis of the studies.  Materials and methods: The research material of this study comprises 231 foetuses (including 116 males and 115 females). The foetuses were divided into five 28-day age classes. The vessels of the lower extremity were injected with LBSK 5545 latex through the femoral artery. The bilateral dissection of the po- pliteal artery along with its branches was performed. No visible malformations were found in the research material, and the foetuses came from spontaneous abortions and premature births.  Results and Conclusions: Ten per cent of the cases featured the variations of popliteal artery terminal branches. Three most commonly seen variations are the trifurcation, anterior tibial-peroneal trunk, and high terminal division of the po- pliteal artery. The most common course of the superior muscular branches is that there are two large branches which are distributed from the popliteal artery at the height of the knee joint cavity and they do not distribute cutaneous branches. Sural branches are also present as two large vessels without cutaneous branches. The genicular anastomosis branches that run on their own are a typical topographic system of these branches.

Typology of the antegonial notch in the human mandible

Background: Surgical treatment for serious malocclusions and fractures of the organ of mastication is a golden standard in medicine. Procedures performed on the mandible require detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the organ. Antegonial notching constitutes a serious technical challenge for surgeons. Therefore, a detailed anatomical description of this structure, which is the subject of this paper, is essential. Materials and methods: We analysed 251 human Caucasian mandibles of identified sex and took measurements of all sections describing the mandibular antegonial notch. Depending on the proportion between sections we classified the shape of the antegonial notch into three types. The surface area of the notch was calculated. We analysed the dimorphic and bilateral differences for each of the three types of notch. We used variance analysis for the assessment of statistical difference. Results: The analysis revealed that in both men and women, regardless of body side, the type 3 antegonial notch was the most frequent. Type 3 occurred with a frequency of between 38% in men on the right side and 55.9% in women on the left side of the body. Type 1 was the least frequent. Dimorphic differences in the presence of individual types of antegonial notch were statistically significant only for the left side of the body. The symmetrical type (type 2) occurred more frequently in men (by 11%) than in women. Type 3 was found more frequently in women (by 10%) than in men. Bilateral differences in men were revealed for the frequencies of types 1 and 3. On the right side type 1 was more frequent (by 8%), and on the left side type 3 was also more frequent (by 8%). The greatest surface area was found for the asymmetrical posterior type (type 1). The smallest surface area was found for the asymmetrical anterior type 3. This difference was statistically significant with respect to the surface area of types 1 and type 2 and found for both sexes for both sides of the body. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the surface areas of types 1 or 2. Conclusions: Knowledge of the preangular notch anatomy can be useful for surgeons during reconstructive and plastic procedures on the body of the mandible

Change of some values of fetal metric features during storage and preservation

On the material of 127 human fetuses of both sexes aged 84-112 days of fetal life as well as on 127 fetuses aged 228-256 days of human life, body length (BL), body mass (BM), head circumference (HC) and thorax circumference (ThC) were measured before their preservation. Value changes of the features were assessed as they are exposed to the following factors: placing in water for 6, 12 and 24 minutes; storing in refrigerator and control measurements were done after 12, 24 and 36 hours; storing in l0% solution of formalin for 1 month, 3 month and after 1 year