The deglutition and conditions affecting it

Deglutition is a very complicated neuromuscular function starting from the very first moment the man is born, providing to the organism necessary nutrients for growing and maintaining in life. It takes place in three stages (Anatomical aspects) commencing with a voluntary one and followed by other two involuntary successive reflexes coordinated from the deglutition centre in the medulla near the vegal nucleus and the respiratory centre. However, this fine function may be affected by various conditions (Clinical aspects) analysed in the text

Formation of suprascapular foramen as a result of ossification of superior transverse scapular ligament: a case report and short review of the literature

Ossification of superior transverse scapular ligament resulting in a bony suprascapular foramen is of fundamental anatomical and clinical importance. In this case report, we describe a special case of a suprascapular foramen. Its specificity lies in foraminal dimensions, resulting in a unique morphometrical pattern in comparison with reported similar cases. This pattern is of great anatomical and clinical importance, because ossification of suprascapular foramen leads to limitation of suprascapular notch, over which suprascapular nerve passes. Ossification can consequently constitute a major predisposing factor for suprascapular nerve entrapment and subsequent neuropathy. Therefore, this anatomic variation should be considered from surgeons and other healthcare professionals

Anatomist: a philosopher, scholar, surgeon, naturalist and alone, as depicted in the 18th century by Joseph Wright

The anatomist, since the beginning of human dissections, had always performed the most difficult task in medicine, the study of the structure of the human body. Religious and scientific barriers throughout the centuries made anatomists become isolated by both the scientific and civilian community. Anatomist rapt in cadavers and skeletal remains was usually depicted as an unsociable being, performing his task in secluded places

Common origin of the second and third palmar digital arteries in an ulnar type superficial palmar arch: a case report

Τhe superficial palmar arch (SPA) is usually formed by an anastomosis between the ulnar artery (UA) and the radial artery (RA) and gives off three common palmar digital arteries. Many variations of the SPA have been reported in the pertinent literature (ulnar type arch, radial type arch, complete and incomplete arch, etc). Complete SPA is reported to be formed in the 69.2 % of the right hands and 70.5 % of the left hands in the pertinent literature. We report a case of a complete ulnar type SPA, where the first and second palmar digital arteries emerge from a common stem

An asymptomatic double aortic arch with separate right vertebral artery and left subclavian artery originating from Kommerell Diverticulum combined with congenital asplenia and absence of celiac trunk

This report describes the unique case of a completely patent Double Aortic Arch (DAA) combined with Kommerell Diverticulum (KD), absence of celiac trunk and congenital asplenia. The anatomical variants described were identified and assessed in a 51-year old female from a computed-tomography angiography (CTA) images with 3D-volume rendered reconstructions during her follow-up after hysterectomy. The reconstructed CTA images showed a DAA with the left common carotid artery stemming from the hypoplastic left aortic arch while  the left subclavian artery originated from a KD in the descending thoracic aorta. A symmetric arrangement of the aortic arch branches was demonstrated, comprising a full vascular ring. Since the patient had been completely asymptomatic and with no symptoms of compression of the esophagus or trachea, no surgical management was advised. The abdomen CTA imaging revealed absence of the celiac trunk with direct origin of the common hepatic and the left gastric artery from the superior mesenteric artery as well as asplenia. We presented a case of asymptomatic DAA of completely patent arches with  the right vertebral artery branching separately of and the left SCA originating from KD in the descending aorta. The term KD can be identified also in other arch anomalies than the one originally described. Since anatomical anomalies can be frequently combined, thorough imaging inspection with CTA of both thorax and abdomen is suggested

Joseph-Pierre Éléonord Pétrequin (1809-1876), the majestic French surgeon who introduced the concept of surgical anatomy

Pétrequin was a French surgeon born in the town of Villeurbanne, near the city of Lyon. He lived in an era when surgery was evolving towards a more complex and modern specialty. His magnificent career was shared between surgical pathology and history of surgery. His two most significant works were “Traité d’anatomie médico-chirurgicale et topographique” (An Assay of Medical and Surgical Anatomy and Topography) and “La chirurgie d’Hippocrate” (The Surgery of Hippocrates). Having realized the need for surgery to be combined with anatomy, he was the scholar who introduced the concept of surgical anatomy. His innovations, travels and publications won him a series of nominations and a place among th greatest European surgeons and philosophers of all times

A cadaveric study of anatomical variations of the normal arterial pattern in hellenic population

Introduction. Arterial variations may cause significant complications during diagnostic and interventional procedures. The objective of the study. Our study examined 73 donated cadavers in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in an effort to unearth possible artery alternations. Material and methods. The major branches of the abdominal aorta, the arteries of the limps and the neck were inquired. Results. In 58.9% of the cadavers no arterial variation was found, whereas one, two and three alternations at the same cadaver were observed in 21.9%, 12.3% and 6.8% respectively. The most common anatomical variations were noted in the vascular branching of the celiac trunk found in 24.7% of the cadavers. Conclusions. There was no statistically significant difference between the two genders concerning the frequency of the observed arterial variations (p<0.05)

A giant adrenal lipoma presenting in a woman with chronic mild postprandial abdominal pain: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Adrenal lipomas are rare, small, benign, non-functioning tumors, which must be histopathologically differentiated from other tumors such as myelolipomas or liposarcomas. They are usually identified incidentally during autopsy, imaging, or laparotomy. Occasionally, they may present acutely due to complications such as abdominal pain from retroperitoneal bleeding, or systemic symptoms of infection. We report a giant adrenal lipoma (to the best of our knowledge, the second largest in the literature) clinically presenting with chronic mild postprandial pain.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 54-year-old Caucasian woman presented several times over a period of 10 years to various emergency departments complaining of long-term mild postprandial abdominal pain. Although clinical examinations were unrevealing, an abdominal computed tomography scan performed at her most recent presentation led to the identification of a large lipoma of the left adrenal gland, which occupied most of the retroperitoneal space. Myelolipoma was ruled out due to the absence of megakaryocytes, immature leukocytes, or erythrocytes. Liposarcoma was ruled out due to the absence of lipoblasts. The size of the lipoma (16 × 14 × 7 cm) is, to the best of our knowledge, the second largest reported to date. After surgical resection, our patient was relieved of her symptoms and remains healthy six years postoperatively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Physicians should be aware that differential diagnosis of mild chronic abdominal pain in patients presenting in emergency rooms may include large adrenal lipomas. When initial diagnostic investigation is not revealing, out-patient specialist evaluation should be planned to enable appropriate further investigations.</p

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY WITH THE ELECTRON AND LIGHT MICROSCOPE OF THE FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY OF THE MESOTHELIAL CELLS

THIS STUDY IS REFERRED TO THE FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY OF MESOTHELIAL CELLS, IN RELATION TO THEIR TOPOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.H ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΑΝΑΦΕΡΕΤΑΙ ΣΤΗ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΚΗ ΔΡΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΤΗΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΜΕΣΟΘΥΛΙΑΚΩΝ ΚΥΤΤΑΡΩΝ, ΣΕ ΣΥΣΧΕΤΙΣΜΟ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΤΟΠΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΗ ΤΟΥΣ ΘΕΣΗ. ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ ΑΝΑΦΟΡΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΤΡΟΠΟ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΜΗΧΑΝΙΣΜΟ ΤΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΛΗΨΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΩΝ ΜΙΚΡΟΜΟΡΙΑΚΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΟΡΙΑΚΩΝ ΕΝΩΣΕΩΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΜΕΣΟΘΗΛΙΑΚΟ ΚΥΤΤΑΡΟ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΝ ΜΗΧΑΝΙΣΜΟ ΑΠΟΔΟΣΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΓΑΙΩΝ ΑΥΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΙΣΤΟΥΣ, ΤΟΥΣ ΟΠΟΙΟΥΣ ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΕΙ. ΔΙΑΠΙΣΤΩΘΗΚΕ ΟΤΙ Ο ΜΗΧΑΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙΔΙΑΦΟΡΕΤΙΚΟΣ ΣΤΙΣ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΕΣ ΘΕΣΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΟΡΟΓΟΝΩΝ ΥΜΕΝΩΝ. Ο ΜΗΧΑΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΔΙΑΦΕΡΕΙΣΤΙΣ ΠΕΡΙΟΧΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΥΠΕΖΩΚΟΤΑ, ΤΟΥ ΠΕΡΙΤΟΝΑΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΠΕΡΙΚΑΡΔΙΟΥ. ΣΤΗ ΣΥΝΕΧΕΙΑ ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ ΣΥΣΧΕΤΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΚΗΣ ΔΡΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΤΗΤΑΣ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΓΟΝΩΝ ΥΜΕΝΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΑΜΝΙΑΚΟΥ ΥΜΕΝΑ. ΤΕΛΟΣ ΔΙΑΠΙΣΤΩΘΗΚΕ ΣΥΝΔΕΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΩΡΟΥ ΠΟΥ ΒΡΙΣΚΕΤΑΙ ΚΑΤΩΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΜΕΣΟΘΗΛΙΑΚΟ ΚΥΤΤΑΡΟ ΜΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΧΩΡΟΥΣ ΤΩΝ ΛΕΜΦΑΓΓΕΙΩΝ