Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 

About: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy is an academic journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Internal carotid artery & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 0930-1038. Over the lifetime, 4383 publications have been published receiving 75462 citations. The journal is also known as: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) & Surgical and radiologic anatomy.

Skin thickness of Korean adults

Abstract: Skin thickness varies considerably between different races and age-groups, between men and women, and between different regions of the body surface. A few authors reported the skin thickness of different regions of the body, but no detailed study have been performed on Asian. We performed 452 biopsies on 28 different regions of the normal skin of Korean men and women. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and measured microscopically. The thickness of the skin (epidermis plus dermis) ranged from 521 to 1,977 μm; the eyelid, prepuce, and inguinal skin was thinnest (521–626 μm), and the back was thickest (1,977 μm). The thickness of the epidermis varied from 31 to 637 μm; skin thickness in the prepuce, eyelid, supraclavicular region, postauricular region, and axilla ranged from 31 to 71 μm; the buttock, dorsum of the hand, and dorsum of the foot were relatively thick (138–189 μm); the palm and sole were thickest (601–637 μm). The thickness dermis varied from 469 to 1,942μm; skin thickness in the eyelid, prepuce, inguinal region, and postauricular region ranged from 469 to 645 μm; the buttock, chest, and anterior neck were relatively thick (1318–1586 μm); the back was thickest (1,942 μm). The epidermis accounted for 3.7–16.8% of the entire skin in most regions, except in the palm and sole (40.6–44.6%). Thickness data may be useful in harvesting full- or split-thickness skin grafts. The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0034-5.

Additional renal arteries incidence and morphometry

Abstract: Advances in surgical and uro-radiological techniques dictate a re-appraisal and definition of renal arterial variations. This retrospective study aimed at establishing the incidence of additional renal arteries. Two subsets were analysed viz. a) Clinical series-130 renal angiograms performed on renal transplant donors, 32 cadaver kidneys used in renal transplantation b) Cadaveric series - 74 en-bloc morphologically normal kidney pairs. The sex and race distribution was males 140, females 96 African 84, Indian 91, White 43 and “Coloured” 18, respectively. Incidence of first and second additional arteries were respectively, 23.2% (R 18.6% L 27.6%) and 4.5% (R 4.7% L 4.4%). Additional arteries occurred more frequently on the left (L 32.0% R 23.3%). The incidence bilaterally was 10.2% (first additional arteries, only). The sex and race incidence (first and second additional) was males, 28.0%, 5.1% females, 16.4%, 3.8% and African 31.1%, 5.4% Indian 13.5%, 4.5% White 30.9%, 4.4% and “Coloured” 18.5%, 0% respectively. Significant differences in the incidence of first additional arteries were noted between sex and race. The morphometry of additional renal arteries were lengths (cm) of first and second additional renal arteries 4.5 and 3.8 (right), 4.9 and 3.7 (left) diameters 0.4 and 0.3 (right), 0.3 and 0.3 (left). Detailed morphometry of sex and race were also recorded. No statistically significant differences were noted. Our results of the incidence of additional renal arteries of 27.7% compared favourably to that reported in the literature (weighted mean 28.1%). The study is unique in recording detailed morphometry of these vessels. Careful techniques in the identification of this anatomical variation is important since it impacts on renal transplantation surgery, vascular operations for renal artery stenosis, reno-vascular hypertension, Takayasu’s disease, renal trauma and uro-radiological procedures.

Do we need dissection in an integrated problem-based learning medical course? Perceptions of first- and second-year students

Abstract: The introduction of a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum at the School of Medicine of the University of Melbourne has necessitated a reduction in the number of lectures and limited the use of dissection in teaching anatomy. In the new curriculum, students learn the anatomy of different body systems using PBL tutorials, practical classes, pre-dissected specimens, computer-aided learning multimedia and a few dissection classes. The aims of this study are: (1) to assess the views of first- and second-year medical students on the importance of dissection in learning about the anatomy, (2) to assess if students’ views have been affected by demographic variables such as gender, academic background and being a local or an international student, and (3) to assess which educational tools helped them most in learning the anatomy and whether dissection sessions have helped them in better understanding anatomy. First- and second-year students enrolled in the medical course participated in this study. Students were asked to fill out a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Data was analysed using Mann–Whitney’s U test, Wilcoxon’s signed-ranks or the calculation of the Chi-square value. The response rates were 89% for both first- and second-year students. Compared to second-year students, first-year students perceived dissection to be important for deep understanding of anatomy (P < 0.001), making learning interesting (P < 0.001) and introducing them to emergency procedures (P < 0.001). Further, they preferred dissection over any other approach (P < 0.001). First-year students ranked dissection (44%), textbooks (23%), computer-aided learning (CAL), multimedia (10%), self-directed learning (6%) and lectures (5%) as the most valuable resources for learning anatomy, whereas second-year students found textbooks (38%), dissection (18%), pre-dissected specimens (11%), self-directed learning (9%), lectures (7%) and CAL programs (7%) as most useful. Neither of the groups showed a significant preference for pre-dissected specimens, CAL multimedia or lectures over dissection. Both first- and second-year students, regardless of their gender, academic background, or citizenship felt that the time devoted to dissection classes were not adequate. Students agreed that dissection deepened their understanding of anatomical structures, provided them with a three-dimensional perspective of structures and helped them recall what they learnt. Although their perception about the importance of dissection changed as they progressed in the course, good anatomy textbooks were perceived as an excellent resource for learning anatomy. Interestingly, innovations used in teaching anatomy, such as interactive multimedia resources, have not replaced students’ perceptions about the importance of dissection.

The sensory innervation of the hip joint - An anatomical study

Abstract: Typically obturator nerve blockade is used to relieve hip pain. It sometimes only has a minor effect in resolving symptoms. This clinical observation led us to examine comprehensively the sensory nerve innervation of formalin-fixed hip joint capsules. Following macroscopic preparation, the area of the hip joint capsule was inspected with the aid of an operating microscope. We discovered a separation between the anterior and posterior sensory innervation of the hip joint capsule. The anteromedial innervation was determined by the articular branches of the obturator n. Additionally, the anterior hip joint capsule was innervated by sensory articular branches from the femoral n. In the posterior part we found articular branches from the sciatic n., which in addition to the articular branches from the nerves to the quadratus femoris m., innervate the posteromedial section of the hip joint capsule. Moreover, articular branches of the superior gluteal n. were found, which innervate the posterolateral section of the hip joint capsule. This anatomical study demonstrates that the obturator n. block is insufficient for the treatment of hip pain. Further investigations will determine if these nn. can be reached percutaneously. Effective neural blockade of the hip joint must include the femoral n., the sciatic n. and the superior gluteal n.

Anatomic variations of the hepatic arteries in 604 selective celiac and superior mesenteric angiographies

Abstract: In modern surgical and transplantation procedures the recognition of anatomic vascular abnormalities of the hepatic arteries is of greater importance than ever. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and classify these variations with respect to their impact on visceral surgery. A total of 604 selective celiac and superior mesenteric angiographies performed on patients with known or suspected liver cirrhosis or hepatic or pancreatic malignancies and on donors of partial liver grafts were analyzed retrospectively. The vascular anatomy of the liver was classified according to different established systems and with particular attention to rare variations. Hepatic arterial anatomy as considered normal in textbook descriptions was found in 79.1%, an aberrant or accessory left hepatic artery (LHA) arising from the left gastric artery in 3.0% and an aberrant or accessory right hepatic artery (RHA) branching off the superior mesenteric artery in 11.9% of the cases. In 1.4% of the cases there was a combination of anomalies of both the LHA and RHA. Variants of the celiac trunk, double hepatic arteries branching at the celiac trunk or hepatic arteries arising directly from the aorta, occurred in 4.1% of the cases. Further atypical branches of the LHA and RHA were found in 0.5% of the cases. Since the incidence and pattern of different types of hepatic arterial anatomy can require specialized preoperative diagnostic as well as intraoperative strategies, knowledge of these abnormalities and their frequency is of major importance for the surgeon as well as the radiologist.