Clinical anatomy : official journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists
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The petrous apex is a complex area surrounded by the cavernous sinus, Dorello's canal and Meckel's cave. The petrosphenoidal ligament (PSL) and the petrolingual ligament (PLL) are important structures located in the region. These two ligaments were examined under a surgical microscope in 10 specimens of five adult cadaveric heads fixed in formalin. ⋯ The PLL invariably surrounded part of the dorsal and lateral walls of the lacerum segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA), just under the anteroinferior portion of the anteromedial wall of Meckel's cave in all specimens. The PSL and PLL are valuable anatomical landmarks for identifying the ICA and the nerves in this region. A thorough understanding of the relationship of the two ligaments with neurovascular structures is a prerequisite for surgery in and around the petrous apex.
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Many studies around the world have looked at the stresses placed on medical students by cadaveric dissection. Although these studies have linked the use of cadavers in medical teaching to stress, some investigations have suggested an association with severe psychological stress and even post-traumatic stress disorder. This study assessed the attitudes of medical and biomedical sciences students in an Irish medical school towards cadaveric dissection by recording, through a questionnaire, their perceptions and experience before initial exposure to dissection and subsequently examining their attitudes after the first dissection and after 9 weeks. ⋯ The majority of students in this study did not find the dissecting room experience stressful, and considered time spent in the dissecting room valuable. However, the proportion of students with negative experiences in the dissecting room was higher than has been reported in previous studies. Many respondents felt they could be better prepared for the dissecting room experience, indicating an increasing requirement for effective preparatory programmes.
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The aim of the study was to describe three small muscles in the upper costovertebral region that have close proximity to the ventral rami of the lower cervical and upper two thoracic spinal nerves. The study was performed using both anterior and posterior approaches to the costovertebral region. Twenty-five human cadavers, 15 males and 10 females with a mean age of 50 years and with normal spines, constituted the material of the study. ⋯ It then curved round the posterior aspect of the muscle and passed through the gap between the muscle and the levator costarum, after supplying them both. We suggest that these three muscles were suggested to share a common embryogenesis with the intertransverse muscles. In addition, this study suggests that the three muscles described herein could be one of the potential causes of thoracic outlet syndrome.
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The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) is a branch of the lumbar plexus and supplies the skin of the lateral thigh region. This entrapment-compressive syndrome is named meralgia paresthetica or Roth's meralgia and depends, on a vast majority of cases, on the entrapment of the nerve in proximity of the inguinal ligament. Surgical decompression of the nerve is an option when conservative treatments fail and is usually performed through a 3-cm infrainguinal skin incision. ⋯ Less frequent findings were early nerve bifurcation, epifascial position, inferior-medial direction, and exit from the pelvis through an iliac bone canal. In 13 cases (8.8%) the nerve was not found at surgery. Anatomical variations of the LFCN must be considered at the time of surgery to maximize success rates and avoid nerve damage during surgical dissection.