Indian Journal of Anatomy

Axillary arch muscle is a variant muscular structure of the axilla which is described as Langer’s muscle, axillary arch or muscular axillary arch by different authors. During the routine dissection of the left axillary region we found a muscular slip which originated from the anterior border of the latissimus dorsi muscle and got inserted on the under surface of the tendon of pectoralis major muscle. Arterial, venous and nervous structures passed under this muscular slip. This has been observed for the first time in the last 20 years in which around 200 cadavers were dissected in this institute. Although axillary arch is not very rare, it is generally neglected and not explored or described well. It has immense clinical and morphologic importance for surgical operations performed on axillary region; thus, surgeons should well be aware of its possible existence.[1]

Keywords: Axillary arch muscle; Breast; Langer’s Muscle; Latissimus dorsi; Reconstruction.   

During gross dissection of right upper limb of a 50 yrs old female cadaver, it was observed that the lateral cord followed its usual path without giving rise to the musculocutaneous nerve, and continued as the lateral root of the median nerve, and a small loop of fibres from lateral cord itself joined the median nerve. There was a connecting band of nerve fibres between lateral and medial cord. The biceps brachii, brachialis and coracobrachialis muscles were innervated by branches that emerged from the median nerve in the arm, longest of these took a curvilinear lateral path between the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles, and appear on the lateral margin of the forearm. It then followed a descending path over the brachioradialis muscle as the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve

Keywords: Musculocutaneous nerve; Median nerve; Unusual innervations. 

During routine dissection of undergraduate students in the academic year 2009-2010 in department of anatomy, upper extremity of a male cadaver of about 63 years of age showed bilateral variation in the formation of median nerve. Median nerve received contribution from lateral cord twice. However; the distribution of the median nerve was normal in the arm, forearm and palm. The arterial pattern in the arm was also normal.

Keywords: Median nerve; Variation; Brachial. 

Pregnancy in a rudimentary horn is a very rare condition. It is responsible for several complications. Prognosis is reserved because the natural evolution generally leads to a catastrophic uterine rupture at the beginning of the second trimester. Classically, the treatment after foetal extraction consists of excision of the rudimentary horn and associated fallopian tube. I report a case of a patient with history of pregnancy inrudimentary uterine horn, the treatment of which was removal of pregnancy with rudimentary horn and repair of the uterus.

Keywords: Mullerian anomaly; Pregnancy; Rudimentary horn; Rupture; Repair.  

The main object of the present study is to provide a composition of bodypreservation fluid which is  effective in preventing decomposition of cadavers, maintaining a desired lifelike appearance of the body which is non hazardous for dissection and environmentally safe. The primary aim of this study is to provide an edifice to the surgeons so that we can express our surgical talents for independent learning and thinking, perform psychomotor skills and exchange our views. Dissection can thus play many roles in the educational process. For funeral embalming it is very essential to introduce some coloring agents so as to enliven the dull state of death, whereas for the anatomical dissection it is important to restore or enhance a normal ante mortem appearance of the body. It was observed that glutaraldehyde with other chemical composition of the embalming fluid was very effective in preservation of cadavers for surgical dissections, anatomic dissections for undergraduate and postgraduates, for staff working in the department of anatomy from the health and toxic hazards of formalin, by prevention of growth of bacteria, fungus and also decay and discoloration.

Keywords: Glutaraldehyde; Embalming; Embalming fluids; Cadaveric laboratory.

Aim: To make neccessary changes in teaching methodologies and improve standards of students performances. Material & Methods: A feed back was taken from 135 1st year MBBS students, 2011 batch,Gandhi Medical College, Musheerabad, through questionnaire forms given to each of them after observing their 10 months academic performance in 1st year MBBS. Results: Non powerpoint presentation (chalk & board, OHP) was preferred by 53.4% (72) of students & powerpoint presentation was preferred by 46.6%(63)of Students. However,drawbacks of powerpoint preferred students are lower retention and not higher ability of students in modern evaluation techniques compared to old ones. The advantage of powerpoint was found to be in the preference for Interactive mode of teaching which is highly significant statistically Yates chi Square = 17.23 (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Higher retention is seen in non powerpoint (chalk & board, OHP) preferred students and the difference is significant. Interactice mode of teaching was liked by significantly higher proportion of students preferring powerpoint compared to noninteractive mode.

Keywords: Teaching methodology; Feedback; Chalk and Board; Powerpoint; Interactive. 

The calcaneum is the longest and largest of the tarsal bones. It articulates superiorly with the talus to form the subtalar joint. In the middle 1/3rd of the superior surface of the calcaneum, there is an oval shaped posterior facet for articulation with the body of the talus. In the anterior 1/3rd of the calcaneum, there are middle and anterior facets for articulation with the head of the talus . Aim: is to determine the variation in the articular facet on the superior surface of calcaneum. Methods: 400 dry and grossly normal human calcanei were collected in the department of Anatomy, Terna Medical College. Out of all the 400 human calcanei, 200 were taken from right side and 200 were from left side. They were divided into 3 types: The three types were according to Bunning and Barnet (1963).[1] Type A: bears 3 facets, Type B: bears 2 facets, Type C : bears 1 facets. Results: Type B was most common pattern found in our study and in type B sub type I was predominant. The sub type I middle and anterior facets confluent pattern has been found dominants in Africans[1,2] and in Indians.[3] Conclusion: Type B (2 distinct facets) was most common in our study. This study indicates that the racial differences were found in the arrangement of articular facets on the superior surface of calcaneum. This can be useful for orthopedic surgeons when they perform calcaneal osteotomy.

Keywords: Calcaneum; Articular; Tarsal; Facet.  

With technical advancements, there is a distant possibility of doing away with dissection. This would adversely affect the conduction of practical examination.

The faculty aims to make the students

ï‚· Enthusiastically participate in dissection

ï‚· Comprehend the anatomical facts

ï‚· Grasp its clinical bearing.

Each day there is opportunity to lay the foundation of a sound understanding based on stimulating interaction. Besides being facilitator and editor, an anatomist has to inspire the students to reach their potential.

To redeem the importance of dissection, make it more purposeful and edit it to highlight clinicalrelevance, it is essential to test the students often. The reasons and gain of these tests should accord objectivity and uniformity to be convincing and compelling for acceptance by the teacher and the taught. How Do We Make It Happen? These tests have to be structured to make the student see the purpose of each dissection schedule.

The methodology to evolve these tests is to be based on the premise that an examiner should judge whether the candidate is able to:

1. Identify the structure pointed at.

2. Seek and show the structures related to the main structure.

3. Demonstrate the pertaining anatomical facts.

4. Explain the pertinent clinical bearing.

Further, to evaluate if the candidate’s ability is barely adequate to pass or he is inquisitive and knows more.

The scope of incorporating all the dissection schedules for university examination, its impact on the students and the feasibility of subjecting other heads of practical examination to this structured methodology is to be presented and discussed.

Keywords: Redeeming; Dissection; Anatomy; Practical examination. 

Introduction: The present study was carried out to enhance the accuracy of sexing the skull which will be helpful in anthropometric and medico legal studies. Methods: Adult human dry skull of known sex (100 male and 100 female) were obtained from different medical colleges of Maharashtra. The parameters like cranial capacity and cranial index were studied. Results: Cranial capacity is significantly higher in male skull than in female skull. Cranial index is significantly more in female skull than in male skull. Conclusion: Both parameters cranial capacity and cranial index are more reliable for determination of sex of skull.

Keywords: Cranial capacity; Cranial Index; Skull. 

Development of the human fetal kidney runs through a series of continual and mutually dependent changes during which the kidney obtains its morphological and functional maturity. There are few anatomical reports on the fetal kidney than on adult human kidney. The study was carried out on 30 normal human fetuses without any congenital anomalies in midgestational period ranging from 14 to 28 weeks. Our study was done with an aim to estimate the changes in kidney size in fetuses from the 14th to the 28th weeks of gestation and to evaluate the dynamics of their growth. Serial measurements of weight of kidneys and its dimensions (length, width, thickness) were taken in 30 fetuses. Fetal kidney volume was calculated and comparison of sum of average volumes of both kidneys with crown rump length [CRL] was done.  We concluded that the period of 20-22 weeks and 26 to 28 weeks are the fastest period of fetal kidney growth. Left kidney presented usually greater length, greater width and greater thickness than right kidney. The volume of kidney shows a linear growth from the 14th week to 28th week of gestation with growth spurts during 2022 weeks and 26 28th weeks. The quotient of the sum of average volumes of both kidneys / CRL increases proportionally during different periods of gestation. There are positive relations between severalmeasures of the renal morphometry. The importance of this study lies in  determining the average fetal kidney dimensions, which could be used as standard values in obstetrics. It is also possible to define the pathological changes in fetal kidney on the basis of the present study.

Keywords: Development; Morphometry; Pathogenesis.  

Introduction: Objective Structured Practical Examination is a method of assessment having high validity and reliability and can assess all the domains of Medical Education. This method removes subjectivity bias and is more objective. Method: The total number of students can be divided into batches of equal students. The students are rotated to all the stations. The students have to attend three types of stations i.e. Procedure station, Question station, and Interpretation station. Conclusion: OSPE is well accepted by the students and Examiners as compared to traditional practical Examination and overall it is an Objective, Valid, Reliable and Reproducible assessment methodology.

Keywords: Objective structured practical examination; Assessment; Objective; Valid; Reliable. 

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