Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA
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There is significant paucity in the literature regarding vertebral aponeurosis. We were able to find only a few descriptions of this specific fascia in the extant medical literature. To elucidate further the anatomy of this structure, forty adult human cadavers were dissected. ⋯ In all specimens, the vertebral aponeurosis was capable of holding sutures placed through its substance. We hope that these data will be of use for descriptive purposes and may potentially add to our understanding of the biomechanics involved in movements of the back. As back pain is perhaps the most common reason patients visit their physicians, additional knowledge of this anatomical region is important.
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The superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) is one of the two main branches of the common peroneal nerve, which become cutaneous nerve on the lateral side of distal leg and dorsum of foot. The use of SPN as nerve graft has been introduced; however, important data regarding the morphometric anatomy of this nerve and its branches, medial and intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerves (MDN and IDN, respectively) to support this application remain incomplete. Eighty-five legs of cadavers were dissected and the branching pattern was classified into Type 1 (penetration of the main trunk of SPN from the deep fascia) or Type 2 (separate penetration of the MDN and IDN). ⋯ The average length of the SPN, MDN and IDN without branches was 7.7, 8.1 and 5.5 cm, respectively. The penetration points of the SPN, MDN and IDN were located 5.1, 7.6 and 5.5 cm above the intermalleolar line, respectively. These data are important for using the SPN as a graft.
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Sensations of the dorsal surface of the hand are supplied by the radial and ulnar nerves with the boundary between these two nerves classically being the midline of the fourth digit. Overlap and variations of this division exist and a communicating branch (RUCB) between the radial and ulnar nerves could potentially explain variations in the sensory examination of the dorsal hand. The aim of this study was to examine the origin and distribution of the RUCB thereby providing information that may potentially decrease iatrogenic injury to this connection. ⋯ Type III (4, 3.3%) traveled perpendicularly between the radial and ulnar nerves so that it was not possible to determine which nerve served as its point of origin. Type IV (18.3%) had multiple RUCBs arising from both the radial and ulnar nerves. With the continual development of new surgical techniques and the ongoing effort to decrease postoperative complications, it is hoped that this study will provide useful information to both anatomists and surgeons.