Anatomy Journal of Africa

Sex balance in anatomical research and education

Khulud Nurani — 2024-11-08

No Abstract

A medial circumflex femoral artery passing anteriorly to the femoral vein: report of a bilateral case

Tata Toure — 2024-11-08

The passage of the medial circumflex femoral artery anterior to the femoral vein is an extremely rare anatomical variation. It can lead to an iatrogenic arteiovenous fistula after cardiac catheterization. We report here the first bilateral case of passage of the medial circumflex femoral artery anterior to the femoral vein. During a dissection on the femoral trigone in a 73-year-old male cadaver, a medial circumflex femoral artery passing anterior to the femoral vein was observed on both sides. On both sides, it originated from the anteromedial aspect of the femoral artery. It was traveling downwards and inwards. It passed anteriorly to the femoral vein and the pectineus muscle before passing between the latter and the adductor longus muscle. On the left side, it passed above the arc of the great saphenous vein, on the right side, it passed above the junction of the superficial circumflex iliac vein into the femoral vein. The medial femoral circumflex femoral artery passing anteriorly to the femoral is an extremely rare anatomical variation. Knowledge of this variation is important for cardiovascular surgeons during endovascular interventions such as cardiac catheterization as well as for radiologists when performing Doppler ultrasound or CT angiography.

The relationship between glenoid osteometry and recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability

Wachira J. Thiong'o — 2024-11-08

The most common joint to dislocate is the glenohumeral joint, resulting in chronic pain and limited function. The role of the capsuloligamentous structures and muscle balance in contributing to shoulder stability has been well documented in the literature but the case is not the same for the bony anatomy of the glenoid. There is limited data on the contribution of glenoid osteometry in increasing the risk of anterior shoulder dislocation. This study sought to find out the association between anterior glenohumeral instability and glenoid anteversion/inclination. A retrospective, case-control study was carried out. The study was carried out at the Departments of Radiology and Imaging at two university hospitals. Shoulder Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans for 45 patients aged between 18 to 45 years with recurrent anterior shoulder instability were used in the study and compared with a control consisting of shoulder MRIs of 45 patients with other shoulder pathologies but having no incidences of dislocation. A structured data collection tool was used to collect the data. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The mean age for all the participants was 32.0 (SD 9.0) years. The mean age for the cases was 29.0 (SD 8.7) years, while for the controls was 34.6 (SD 8.5) years. The glenoid was anteverted in 40% and 35.6% of cases and controls respectively (p = 1.00) and retroverted in 60% and 64.4% of cases and controls respectively (p =0.666). Most of the glenoids were superiorly inclined (91.1% and 93.3% for cases and controls respectively. The differences in the glenoid version and inclination between the cases and controls were not statistically significant (p = 0.288 and p = 0.489 for the glenoid version and inclination respectively. Glenoid version and inclination are not significantly increased in patients with anterior shoulder instability compared to unmatched controls.

Changes associated with dietary beetroot extract on diet-induced damage in the common carotid artery of the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Wanjiku Ndung'u — 2024-11-08

The high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHFr) has become widespread globally corresponding to a rise in obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Traditionally, these diseases were managed by multiple-drug regimens whose adherence was limited by side effects, hence leading to consideration of natural compounds. Recent studies have exploited the phytochemical properties of numerous plant extracts in ameliorating the histological changes seen in common carotid artery (CCA) damage, however, hardly any studies have investigated the effect of beetroot extract. The CCA were obtained from a biobank of a study that induced HFHFr in 45 male rats. Rats in the control group had received standard rat chow and water, and the positive control group received HFHFr. Those in the experimental group received HFHFr and 200mg/kg beetroot extract. These rats were randomly selected, euthanized and perfused on weeks 4,8,10 and 16. Their CCA were harvested, processed and stereological techniques applied to determine the densities of different histological components of the CCA.The HFHFr fed experimental animals revealed medial vascular thickening with a resultant increase in carotid intima-media thickness, increased vascular smooth muscle density, reduced elastic fiber density, and increased collagen fiber density compared to controls. Beetroot coadministration was protective against most of these structural changes. Dietary administration of beetroot extract has been found to be ameliorative to structural changes on the CCA following administration of HFHFr. Therefore, dietary beetroot extract may be indicated to mitigate harmful changes following long term exposure to a high fat high fructose diet.

Exploring anomalous muscular architecture: a case of the dorsoepitrochlearis muscle

Khulud Nurani — 2024-11-08

Anatomic variations in the upper limb are of great significance as they pose implications on surgical techniques and raise the risk of intraoperative injury.The presence of dorsoepitrochlearis muscle was discovered during routine dissection of a male cadaver at the Department of Human Anatomy. This variant muscle was found in the right axillary region, originating as a single strip from latissimus dorsi and attaching onto the medial epicondyle of the humerus. Dorsoepitrochlearis is a rare anatomical variation whose spectrum of clinical manifestation may extend from asymptomatic to muscular paresthesia and atrophy as well as motion restriction. A rich basis of knowledge of anatomical variations is crucial in diagnosis and management.

Rare origin of the third head of biceps brachii muscle, its clinical significance, review on incidence and clinical application

Mya Thein Shin — 2024-11-08

The anatomical variations of the biceps brachii muscle are well-known and well-documented. Awareness of these variations is necessary to avoid complications during radio diagnostic procedures or surgeries in the arm. The biceps brachii muscle is one of the most variable muscles in the human body, in terms of the number and morphology of its heads. Thus, the anatomical variations and gross innervations pattern of the biceps brachii muscle were studied in the present work by using 62 arms from 31 adult cadavers. Among 62 studied arms, 26 arms (41.9%) were males, and 36 arms (58.1%) were females. During the study, the third head was found in seven out of 62 arms (11.3%). It was found that four out of 26 studied male biceps muscles (15.4%) revealed third heads while three out of 36 studied female biceps muscles (8.3%) revealed third heads. Also, third head prevalence among male subjects was found to be nearly doubled than those of female subjects. It was found that three out of 31 left-sided biceps muscles (9.3%) included third heads while four out of 31 rightsided biceps muscles (12.9%) included third heads. So, the third head prevalence on the right side was found to be higher than that of the left side. Bilateral third heads were found in two out of 31 cadavers (6.4%) and three out of 31 studied cadavers (9.6%) had unilateral third heads. There were three types of variations encountered in the origin of the third head. They could be categorized as (1) infero-medial humeral origin was found in five arms (71.4%), (2) infero-lateral humeral origin was found in one arm (14.3%), (3) coracoid origin was found in one arm (14.3%). The third head originated from the coracoid process of scapula together with the short head of biceps brachii was a rare variant found by Macalister in 1875. In the present study, it was found in one out of seven third heads (14.3%). Based on the current literature review, it was the first time to find this rare origin of the third head since the day of the Macalister. Understanding of such variations is helpful in preoperative diagnosis and surgery of the upper limb.

Bilateral distal tibio-fibular synostosis: a case of morphological deformity in cadaveric remains of black ethnicity at the department of anatomy, equator University of Science and Technology

Edith Nagawa — 2024-11-08

Tibial fibular synostosis is a rare congenital or acquired abnormality with most cases identified coincidentally upon clinical presentation. Distal tibio-fibular synostosis are reported to be secondary to traumatic events; and whereas Unilateral distal Tibial fibular synostosis have been widely documented, bilateral occurrences are rare among persons of black ethnicity. The objective of this report is to elaborate a rare occurrence of bilateral distal tibial fibular synostosis incidentally found during a bone preparation procedure in a gross anatomy laboratory. This was a distally located bone fusion with exostoses, involving the anterior, medial and posterior surfaces of the tibial-fibular bones. The causative factor of this deformity in our case couldn’t be ascertained since this was a cadaveric incidental finding with no life or clinical history to relate to. However with distal fusions and visible exostoses, we probably infer that this was synostosis of osteochondromatic origin. Permission to access the case specimens and present this report was sought and granted by the University Research and Ethics committee of Equator University of science and technology.