Italian journal of anatomy and embryology 

About: Italian journal of anatomy and embryology is an academic journal published by University of Florence. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Stem cell. It has an ISSN identifier of 1122-6714. Over the lifetime, 1834 publications have been published receiving 8182 citations. The journal is also known as: Archivio italiano di anatomia e di embriologia.

The fascia: the forgotten structure.

Abstract: This paper examines the main characteristics of the human fascial system, considered in its three-dimensional continuity. To better understand the anatomy of the human fascial system, a simple diagram of the subcutaneous tissue must be borne in mind. From the skin to the deepest plane, we find the superficial fascia, dividing the subcutaneous tissue into two fibroadipose layers, superficial and deep, and the deep fascia, which envelops all the muscles of the body, showing different characteristics according to region. Under the deep fascia is the epimysium, occurring in the limbs and some regions of the trunk. Skin ligaments connect the superficial fascia to the skin and to the deep fascia, forming a three-dimensional network among the fat lobules. The typical features of the superficial and deep fasciae and their relationships to nerves, vessels and muscles are reported here, highlighting the possible role of the deep fascia in proprioception and peripheral motor coordination. The main features of the fasciae with imaging techniques are also discussed. This knowledge may contribute to clinicians' understanding of the myofascial system and the role which the deep fasciae may play in musculoskeletal dysfunctions.

Magnetic resonance angiographic evaluation of circulus arteriosus cerebri (circle of Willis): a morphologic study in 100 human healthy subjects.

Abstract: The Circle of Willis was studied by Magnetic Resonance Angiography in 100 healthy subjects. In 41% of these cases, the arteries were arranged in the classically described way. In 21%, hypoplasia of the posterior communicating as. was noted, while in 13% the posterior cerebral as were found to originate from the internal carotid a.. In 9% of these cases, three anterior cerebral as. were present. In 3% the anterior communicating artery could not be identified, while the left posterior communicating artery was hypoplastic. In 2% the absence of a posterior communicating artery was associated with the origin of a posterior cerebral a. from the internal carotid. In another 2% the anterior cerebral as. were partially fused, and in yet another 2%, hypoplasia of both an anterior and a posterior cerebral a. was present. The remaining seven cases (7%), all different from each other, represented combinations of the above described variations. Statistical analysis indicated that anomalies occurred more commonly on the left than on the right side. The morphology of the Circle of Willis could not be correlated with either sex or Body Index.

The vascular endothelium of the adipose tissue gives rise to both white and brown fat cells

Abstract: Adipose tissue expansion involves the enlargement of existing adipocytes, the differentiation of adipocyte progenitors, and the development of the supporting vascular network. Although some data suggest that the adipocyte progenitors reside in the vasculature of the adipose tissue, their identity is not completely clear [1,2]. Here we address the hypothesis that a population of adipocytes derives from an endothelial cell (EC) lineage. We performed a detailed morphological analysis in developing murine WAT and BAT in order to highlight the features of adipocyte precursors. In addition, we used the VE-Cadherin- Cre/R26R mouse model to address the relationship between vascular ECs and adipose cells development. This lineage tracing model allowed the identification of cells that express the EC gene VE-Cadherin at any point during differentiation. Finally, we analyzed capillary sprouts arising from human subcutaneous fat tissue to evaluate the hypothesis that ECs forming these structures possess the capacity to transform into adipocytes. Ultrastructural analysis of discrete areas of intense adipogenesis, that we designated vasculo-adipocytic islets, revealed the presence of rare endothelial-pericytic cells that could represent an intermediate developmental step between the EC and the preadipocyte stage. Lineage tracing experiments using the VE-cadherin promoter revealed the expression of reporter genes in ECs, preadipocytes and adipocytes in white and brown fat depots. Furthermore, capillary sprouts (which have predominantly EC characteristics) from human adipose tissue were found to express Zfp423, a recently identified marker of preadipocyte determination [3]. In response to PPARγ activation the ECs lost progressively their structural and molecular characteristics, and formed structurally and biochemically defined adipocytes. We report morphological and genetic evidence that adipocytes in white and brown fat depots originate from cells that display endothelial characteristics and this is in accordance with the results published by other researchers [4] and also with previous works performed in our lab [5].