Mucus as an anatomical entity has been unjustly overlooked in bioscience, despite being recognised as an influential microenvironment for cells or hosts with disease-causing properties. In addition to his description of cell function, Rudolf Virchow considered the effect of mucus, to which we owe today’s thinking on cell biology. He coined the term ‘Schleimgewebe’. These spaces of mucus, formed by ‘connective tissue’ (wrongly ‘fasciae’, formerly described as ‘tela’), can be revealed without cells by Ott’s method. The fact that correct cells redevelop locally through blood perfusion in determined spaces is further evidence of local effectiveness of Schleimgewebe. As further evidence for a mucus topology, we can conclude that topological thinking is clinically very successful in cancer treatment.
The ulnar artery (UA) is one of the two major arteries of the forearm. Compared to the radial artery, the UA is rarely used in coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery, partially due to misconceptions regarding its anatomy. This narrative literature review aimed to evaluate current understanding of UA anatomy, to evaluate its feasibility as a conduit for CABG. Following a systematic search, 86 papers were included that described the gross and microscopic anatomy of the UA or its major branches using a range of techniques in living people and cadaveric specimens. Of the 60 studies that described UA gross anatomy, two measured its mean length (23 cm, approximately 15 cm of which is harvestable). Luminal diameter (32 studies) ranged from 1.48–5.71 mm proximal to 2.20–3.58 mm at or distal to the wrist; these findings demonstrate the UA is of similar size to other common conduits. Descriptions of the arrangement of the superficial palmar arch (SPA) (25 studies) lacked consistency; however, more than half of SPAs were formed by the UA and a branch of the radial artery (55.6%, 1350/2430), indicating safe UA harvest is feasible in some people. Microscopically (3 studies), the UA is predominantly muscular, with a mean±SD wall thickness of between 0.10±0.08 mm and 0.56±0.16 mm. The diameter of the UA is well documented, but high-quality studies of its length, and microscopic anatomy (e.g., tunica media and internal elastic lamina composition) and behaviour are required to better understand its feasibility as a CABG conduit.
Objectives: Biomechanical models commonly describe the piriformis muscle as reversing function from a hip external rotator to an internal rotator with increasing hip flexion. These models often assume a uniform distal tendon attachment, despite growing anatomical evidence of variability. Femoral torsion is a clinically measurable parameter that may influence piriformis tendon orientation and function. Methods: The piriformis muscle was examined in 63 femora from 38 embalmed donor bodies. The position of the piriformis distal tendon attachment on the superior surface of the greater trochanter was measured relative to its midpoint and classified as anterior or posterior. Femoral angle of torsion was measured using direct anatomical methods with a goniometer. The relationship between femoral torsion and piriformis tendon position was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation. Results: Across the full sample, no significant relationship was identified between femoral torsion and piriformis tendon position (r=0.13, p=0.31). Right femora demonstrated no meaningful association, whereas left femora showed a statistically significant moderate positive correlation, with increasing femoral torsion associated with a more posterior tendon position (r=0.38, p=0.04). No consistent or statistically significant patterns were observed when analyses were stratified by sex. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the relationship between femoral torsion and piriformis tendon position is inconsistent and not bilaterally uniform. When considered alongside documented variability in piriformis distal attachment, these results call into question simplified biomechanical models that assume a predictable reversal of piriformis function with hip flexion and support a more cautious interpretation of piriformis biomechanics.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Methods: This study was conducted prospectively in the Urology Clinic between May 1, 2015, and April 20, 2017. The BPH group included 310 patients aged 45–75 years diagnosed with BPH, without chronic disease and without surgery, while the control group included 270 patients in the same age range with urological diagnoses that did not affect BIA values. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels for both groups were retrieved from medical records. Anthropometric measurements of body composition between the two groups were performed using the BIA-101 device (Akern Bioresearch Srl, Pontassieve, Florence, Italy). Data were analyzed between the two groups using Spearman’s correlation, independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression tests in IBM SPSS V22 software. Results: Body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), body cell mass (BCM), muscle mass (MM), intracellular water (ICW), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and body cell mass index (BCM) were lower and statistically significant in the BPH group. Conversely, as expected, the PSA value was higher and statistically significant in the BPH group compared to the control group (p<0.001). In the age-adjusted logistic regression analysis, FFM was lower and statistically significant in the BPH group (p=0.038). Conclusion: The BIA method is a reliable, inexpensive, and easily applicable method that can be used to detect changes in body components of common diseases such as BPH.
The renal arteries typically originate from the abdominal aorta at the level of the L1–L2 vertebrae and divide into five segmental arteries near the renal hilum. In this report, we describe a rare anatomical variation in which the inferior segmental artery of the kidney arises independently from the abdominal aorta and gives rise to an atypical right testicular artery. We further discuss the clinical and surgical implications of this variation. This case highlights the critical importance of recognizing vascular anatomical variations in order to prevent iatrogenic complications during retroperitoneal invasive procedures. In the present case, both total nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy involving the inferior segment of the right kidney may result in ischemic injury to the right testis due to its anomalous arterial supply.
