ABSTRACT The vertebral nerve (VN) is a postganglionic sympathetic structure that arises from the cervicothoracic ganglion, ascends alongside the vertebral artery, and provides sympathetic innervation to the upper limb via the brachial plexus. Despite its anatomical relevance, it remains largely unknown to anesthesiologists and pain clinicians. The stellate ganglion block (SGB) is the current standard for upper‐limb sympatholysis but produces nonselective effects, including Horner's syndrome and potential cardiac involvement. A more selective approach targeting the VN could achieve equivalent upper‐limb sympatholysis while potentially offering a superior safety profile. We conducted a comprehensive anatomical review of the VN, covering its origin, trajectory, branching patterns, and communications with both the cervical spinal nerves and the vertebral plexus. Using this anatomical framework, we describe an ultrasound‐guided technique for selective VN blockade at the C7 level, validated with fluoroscopic contrast confirmation. We objectively evaluated clinical efficacy using infrared thermography and laser Doppler flowmetry. The VN is an anatomically consistent and sonographically accessible target for selective upper‐limb sympathetic blockade. At this target, effective sympatholysis can be achieved with minimal injectate volumes, thereby avoiding the nonselective effects of conventional SGB. Further studies are needed to compare efficacy, optimal technique parameters, and complication rates with existing approaches.
ABSTRACT To better understand (abnormal) colonic anatomy on imaging, data on normal colonic anatomy in the unaffected population are crucial. We assessed colon lengths in children without constipation on MRI. This retrospective study included patients (< 18 years), who underwent MRI‐enterography between 2016 and 2020 for suspected inflammatory bowel disease, and did not meet Rome‐IV criteria for functional constipation. Patients with colonic inflammation were excluded. Primary outcome was the mean total colon length/BSA (cm/m 2 ) (95% CI; ±2SD), and the secondary outcomes were total colon length (cm), rectosigmoid length/BSA (cm/m 2 ), and rectosigmoid length (cm). Colon segments were independently measured on coronal T2‐weighted MRI using 3D multiple‐point measurements. Linear regression was used to evaluate associations between total colon length and sex, age, height, weight, body surface area (BSA). Eighty‐one patients (median age 15 years; range 11–17; 53% male) were included. The mean total colon length/BSA was 72.9 ± 21.0 cm/m 2 . Mean total colon length was 115.8 ± 13.8 cm, mean rectosigmoid length/BSA was 24.2 ± 12.3 cm/m 2 , and mean rectosigmoid length was 38.2 ± 7.9 cm. Additionally, we assessed colonic segments per age group. Colon length significantly correlated with age ( p = 0.03), height ( p < 0.001), weight ( p < 0.001), and BSA ( p < 0.001). In a multivariable linear regression analysis, BSA was significantly correlated with total colon length (95% CI 21.4–49.4; p < 0.0001). This study provides data on colon and rectosigmoid lengths in children, aged 11–17 years, without constipation measured on MRI‐enterography. This knowledge can be used for the identification of abnormal colonic anatomy in children with therapy‐resistant constipation on imaging.
ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI), especially the recent proliferation of generative Large Language Models (LLMs), is transforming traditional anatomy education by introducing new teaching tools. However, the adoption of these cutting‐edge technologies raises questions about global educational equity. It remains unclear whether AI will serve as a digital equalizer or further exacerbate marginalization. This rapid bibliometric synthesis aims to provide a comprehensive, data‐driven overview of the “Application of Artificial Intelligence in Anatomy Education” (AAAE). We seek to map the intellectual landscape, detect structural and technological shifts, evaluate the geopolitical disparities, and provide corresponding references. A total of 85 consolidated records were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus. These data constituted the whole panorama of AAAE. Bibliometrix and CiteSpace were utilized for static and dynamic mapping. A multidisciplinary expert panel validated the thematic clusters using Gwet's AC1 and the Normalized Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI). Publications surged following ChatGPT's release, indicating a shift from specialized computer vision to the application of general‐purpose LLMs. While high‐income countries maintain leadership, AI could exert a “democratizing effect” on upper‐middle‐income countries, doubling their odds of publication compared to traditional anatomy. Six research frontiers and three research trajectories were captured, and corresponding implications for future researchers in the global south and north were presented. AAAE could be conducted using a stratified strategy: different expansions of AI technologies for pedagogy; leveraging commercial APIs to bypass infrastructure bottlenecks; and validating open‐source models. Global equity critically demands cross‐border collaboration and inclusive datasets.
ABSTRACT The vastus lateralis (VL) has long been described as comprising a longitudinal part (vastus lateralis longus, VLL) and an oblique part (vastus lateralis obliquus, VLO), the latter inserting onto the superolateral border of the patella and traditionally regarded as a component of the VL that stabilizes the patella laterally. However, the anatomical relationship between the VLO and the remainder of the VL has never been rigorously defined, and electromyographic studies have independently regarded the muscle belly emerging at the distolateral thigh as the “superficial region of the vastus intermedius (VI).” To address this discrepancy, we re‐examined the structure and innervation of the VLO in five thighs from five embalmed cadavers by gross dissection. The belly conventionally identified as the VLO was present in all specimens and inserted onto the superolateral patella. When the VLL was reflected, this belly was continuous with the VI, which arose broadly from the anterior surface of the femoral shaft; thus, the VLO was the most distal portion of the VI protruding lateral to the lateral border of the VL. Consistently, this region was supplied by the terminal twigs of the lateral branch of the VI (femoral nerve), whereas the branch to the VL did not reach it. We conclude that the so‐called VLO is not part of the VL but the distal part of the VI. This reinterpretation reconciles the anatomical convention with electromyographic findings and has implications for anatomical nomenclature, interpretation of VI surface electromyography, and understanding the traction source in painful bipartite patella.
ABSTRACT Periodontal and implant procedures increasingly involve tissue planes superficial to the periosteum, yet their regional anatomy remains poorly understood. This study conducted a histological investigation of the supraperiosteal anatomy of the oral cavity and its implications for periosteal releasing incisions (PRIs). Intraoral dissection of the mimetic muscle was performed using a fresh anatomical donor. Subsequently, maxillary and mandibular incisor, premolar, and molar regions from five formalin‐fixed donors were examined histologically using Masson's trichrome staining. Muscular, neural, vascular, and connective tissue structures within 5 mm of the facial alveolar bone surface were evaluated. Supraperiosteal tissue architecture differed markedly by region. Muscular, neural, and vascular structures showed distinct region‐specific distributions. The mental nerve and its branches were identified in the mandibular premolar region, whereas facial and buccal vessels were present near the bone surface in the posterior regions. Muscle attachment and intervening connective tissue also varied regionally. Structures potentially injured during PRI and their associated risks are region‐dependent. PRI should therefore be guided by region‐specific anatomy and the tissues requiring release for sufficient flap mobility rather than by a predetermined incision depth alone.
