Clinical anatomy : official journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists
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Case Reports
Fracture of the ulnar sesamoid of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb: a case report.
Fracture of the thumb sesamoid bones is rare. We report here a fracture of the ulnar sesamoid in a 25-year-old man caused by a fall on his outstretched hand. ⋯ Physical examination revealed tenderness, swelling, and a hematoma over the first metacarpal joint of the right thumb. Radiographs showed a fracture of the ulnar sesamoid which should not be confused with normal variants that occasionally arise from ossifications centers that fail to unite.
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At autopsy on a 72-year-old woman, the aortic arch showed an unusual arrangement, passing behind the trachea and esophagus and descending on the left side. The heart was normal, and death was due to unrelated causes. The nature of this anomaly is considered in respect of embryological development.
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A case is described in which, following a motorcycle accident resulting in a closed head injury, a young woman was rendered unconscious. On examination she was found to have unilateral decerebrate rigidity. Further clinical and radiological examination revealed that there was no damage to the limbs, vertebral column, or spinal cord. Readers are expected to be able to make an anatomical diagnosis on the basis of the facts presented.
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Concerns are raised regarding the status of anatomy as an academic discipline and its future. The traditional place of anatomy in the medical and other curricula is under serious threat. There is a decline in the number of clinically qualified academic staff members in anatomy departments. Options for change if anatomy is to remain among viable academic disciplines are explored.