Morphometric analysis of corpus callosum in relation to brain size in fetuses of South Indian population

Background: The corpus callosum (CC) comprises axons connecting the cortices of the two cerebral hemispheres and is the principal white matter fiber bundle in the brain Morphological characteristics of fetal corpus callosum are of value from embryologic and diagnostic points of view. Knowledge of fetal callosal size is an essential prerequisite for the study of its changes during infancy and childhood. Methods: The study included twenty four formalin fixed fetuses ranging from 25 to 40 weeks obtained from department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College. The measurements taken were; frontal pole to occipital pole, anterior most point to posterior most point of CC, frontal pole of brain to anterior most point of CC, occipital pole of brain to posterior most point of CC, anterior edge of splenium to superior most point of superior colliculus and thickness of body of CC.Results: Spearman’s correlation test was used to determine the correlation between different parameters. A strong positive correlation was found between the length and gestational age (r=0.69), between thickness and gestational age (r=0.4) and between length and thickness of corpus callosum (r=0.5).Conclusions: Length and thickness of corpus callosum was found to increase proportionally to gestational age but it was not statistically significant. The growth of CC was proportional to the growth of brain. The precise anatomical knowledge regarding the morphology and growth of corpus callosum will provide baseline data for the diagnosis and assessment of progression of a disease affecting it.

Role of yoga intervention on quality of life and prehypertension

351-355   In developing countries like India, hypertension poses a major problem. Rise in blood pressure for a prolonged period above the normal range is labeled as hypertension and this is usually preceded by prehypertension. Yogic exercises done on regular basis can have beneficial effects on hypertension. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of yogic exercises in controlling blood pressure in pre-hypertensive.    Security personnel were screened for hypertension and the subjects with pre-hypertension were selected for study. subjects with pre-hypertension were divided into control and intervention group by using simple random sampling method. Intervention group were trained for yoga and both the groups were followed up to check blood pressure every 3 months.    The study observed a decrease in weight and blood pressure of intervention group as compared to the control group but it was not statistically significant. The intervention group showed significant improvement in self rated quality of life compared to the control group.    Yogasanas and meditation seems to have an antihypertensive effect and a positive effect on self rated quality of lifeby intervention group as compared to the control group. This proves that simple yogasanas and meditation could be useful to improve the quality of life and control blood pressure in subjects with pre-hypertension

Morphometry and Relations of the Rectum to the Various Anatomical Landmarks: A Cadaveric Study

Background: The present study aimed to calculate the length of the rectum, its anterior peritoneal reflection and to assess the relations of the rectum to the various anatomical landmarks in cadavers. Also, to observe any gender differences. Material and Methods: The present study was performed on 18 sagittal sections of the pelvis of adult human cadavers. The distances were measured from the anal verge to the midpoint of sacral promontory, anterior peritoneal reflection, S3 vertebra, the tip of the coccyx and the lower border of pubic bone. Results: The level of anterior peritoneal reflections was 7.70±1.15 cm and 7.59±1.69 cm respectively for males and females. There were no statistically significant gender differences. Conclusion: The average length of the rectum did not reveal any significant gender differences. The level of anterior peritoneal reflection for the rectum would aid as a landmark for surgeons operating at this site without exploring the peritoneal cavity

Variant Musculo-tendinous Slip between Teres major and Triceps brachii

A variation of the muscles of the scapular region is a very rare finding. During the routine dissection for the undergraduates, a variant short musculo-tendinous slip in between the teres major and the long head of triceps brachii muscles was seen. This slip could cause compression of the underlying brachial vessels and the cords of brachial plexus. Therefore this type of variation is worthy of being noted by the surgeons

Variation in the formation of the retromandibular and the external jugular veins with embryological overview: A case report

Awareness of the formation and termination of the head & neck's superficial vein, such as jugular veins, are imperative for anatomists, surgeons, and radiologists during interventional procedures. We report an uncommon variation in the formation of the retromandibular vein and external jugular vein (EJV) in an embalmed male cadaver's right side. The joining of the facial vein and superficial temporal vein within the parotid gland formed the retromandibular vein (RMV). The anterior division joined with the submental vein forming an anomalous venous trunk. The anomalous vein united with the EJV forming a common trunk in the lower third of the neck and terminated into the subclavian vein. We compared the available literature and justified the embryological development of this rare variation

Determination of inter-bronchial and subcarinal angles in fetuses of different gestational age and their clinical implication

Introduction:The tracheo-bronchial angles in the human fetus are of increasing relevance in perinatal medicine to determine both normal and pathological criteria. The present study was undertaken to calculate the inter-bronchial angle using a novel method by an image analyzer at different gestational ages. Materials and Methods:The present study was carried out using 24 human fetuses in the department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. The right and left bronchial, inter-bronchial and subcarinal angles were calculated by using an image analyzer named Image J. Results:The right bronchial angle ranged from 21.99° to 43.96°. The left bronchial angle ranged from 29.48° to 56.21°. The inter-bronchial angle ranged from 60.53° to 100.86°. Student t test was applied to compare the means of bronchial angles between the second and third trimesters which did not show any statistical significance. The subcarinal angle ranged from 41.69° to 74.88° with an average of 61.15 ± 9.73°. Conclusion:The present study analyses the inter-bronchial and subcarinal angles in different GA, the knowledge of which would be essential to understand the developmental changes of the respiratory passages

Posterior belly of the digastric muscle: An important landmark for various head and neck surgeries

Objectives: The digastric muscle is an important landmark in head and neck surgeries. Important neurovascular structures such as the spinal accessory and hypoglossal nerves (HNs), internal jugular vein (IJV) and internal carotid artery lie deep to the posterior belly of digastric (PBD); the study relating to it deserves special mention in anatomical literature. Therefore, the present study aims to describe the PBD in relation to the essential anatomical landmarks. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out using 10 cadavers preserved in 10% formalin. The midpoint of IJV in the neck was identified as the point between the angle of the mandible and midclavicular point. The anatomical landmarks considered for measuring the parameters were tip of the mastoid process (TMP), loop of HN, midpoint of IJV, bifurcation of common carotid artery (CCA) and the midpoint of PBD. Various parameters were measured using the digital calipers. Results: The length of PBD was 3.77 +/- 1.08 cm on right and 3.15 +/- 0.05 cm on left side indicating slightly longer belly on the right. The extended length did not vary much on both the sides, which were 6.7 +/- 1.23 cm on right and 6.7 +/- 0.75 cm. The HN crossed PBD 2.72 +/- 0.8 cm anterior to the TMP on right side, while on left side it was situated 2.1 +/- 0.57 cm anterior to TMP. The distance between the midpoint of PBD and of IJV was 6.58 +/- 0.99 cm on right side, whereas it was 6.1 +/- 0.96 cm on left side. The distance between the midpoint PBD and bifurcation of CCA was 3.04 +/- 0.61 cm on right and 2.78 +/- 0.74 cm on left side. Conclusion: As the PBD muscle is an important surgical landmark, the present study adds to the existing knowledge about it. The present study has also included few newer landmarks, which were not given importance in the previous studies. [Arch Clin Exp Surg 2015; 4(2.000): 79-82

Anatomy of maxillary sinus and its ostium: A radiological study using computed tomography

Background: Interventions involving the middle meatus are commonly performed because the majority of the paranasal sinuses open into the osteomeatal complex. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to locate the level of maxillary sinus ostium (MSO), to measure the distances between MSO and different anatomical landmarks, to measure the different dimensions of maxillary sinus and to compare the morphology of maxillary sinus between the right and the left sides. Materials and Methods: The study involved 50 computed tomography (CT) images of normal paranasal sinus anatomy in coronal and sagittal planes from the Department of Radiodiagnosis. The location of the sinus ostium (upper, middle, or lower third) was observed. Perpendicular distance from the sinus ostium to the lower border of inferior turbinate and hard palate were measured. The maximum vertical, transverse, and antero-posterior diameters of the maxillary sinus were measured. Results: Of 50 CT images, the MSO was located in the upper third in 40 cases while in 10 it was located in the middle third. The most common location of MSO was in the upper third. The dimensions of the maxillary sinus indicated bilateral symmetry. Conclusion: The dimensions of the maxillary sinus indicated bilateral symmetry, and there were no significant gender differences when compared. However, the distances of the MSO from the major anatomical landmarks were significantly different between males and females which are seldom reported earlier. This knowledge about the variations in the lateral wall of the nasal cavity is crucial during the endoscopic interventions and for functional endoscopic sinus surgeries