Indian Journal of Anatomy

Bivalves are widespread invertebrates that are mostly marine and benthic, with great impacts in the aquatic systems food chains. Their soft body is laterally compressed and covered with a hard shell, often having bilateral symmetry. Strong adductor muscles help in the shell movement. Various species are used as bioindicators of environmental quality. Many, such as mussels, clams, scallops, or oysters, are heavily harvested/reared for human consumption. Bivalves availability, adaptability and simple anatomy make them attractive for both fundamental and applied research. One particular target for such studies is the nervous system. It is typically made of  a central nervous system holding three types of ganglia (cerebral, pedal, visceral), organized into an outer neuron- and glia-rich cortex and an inner axon-rich medulla. Nerves interconnect the ganglia as well as these and peripheral nervous system components, made of sensorial structures such as eyes (mantle, tentacles), and osphradia (gills) and statocysts (foot); They are involved in photoreception or are mechano or chemoreceptors. Among other roles, the nervous system governs reproduction, via influences in the sexual development, gametogenesis, fertilization and spawning. Such modelling is via neurotransmitters and neurohormones, interplaying with direct/indirect impacts of biotic (eg, food abundance) and abiotic (eg, temperature, pH, salinity) factors. We know now that many pollutants can disrupt the nervous system and gonads and their poorly known interaction. Knowing the nervous system functional morphology is critical to understand such disruptions and foreseen reproductive consequences. Accordingly, this work offers a systematic overview about the bivalve nervous system and related reproductive events.

Keywords: Anatomy; Histology; Bivalves; Nervous system; Ganglia; Neurons; Glial cells; Neurocytology; Neurophysiology; Reproduction.

Background:Estimation of an individual’s stature is an important parameter in forensic examinations and anthropological studies. Morphometry of the hand provides important evidence in a crime scene investigation which helps in the estimation of stature of a criminal.Moreover, there can be anthropometric variations in different geographical areas. Aim: Determination of standard data of stature, hand length and middle finger length. To obtain correlation between these parameters. Material and method: 260 students were measured with 130 male and 130 Female candidates. Descriptive statistical analysis with distribution of population by skewness and Kurtosis are analyzed. Correlation between parameters  were calculated with SPSS. Result: Middle finger length with hand length is highly correlated with pearson Correlation 0.896 for left side and 0.892 for right side. Both parameters are Correlated with Height of person by linear correlation. Multivariaent regression equations are calculated. Conclusioin: Both hand length and Middle finger length are linearly correlated with height of person. Multiveriate regression formulas are useful to calculate structure of person. These parameter are useful in ergonomics.

Keywords: Stature; Hand length; Middle finger length; Correlation coefficient. 

Growing interest of surgeons in anterior approach to lumbar spine has demonstrated its vascular complications. A clear delineation of vascular working window for operating lumbar spine, formed by inferior vena cava formation and Aortic bifurcation is important to avoid dangerous complication. This study determines common level of Aortic bifurcation at the body of L4, with average distance of 34mm from lower border of L5-S1 disc. Variable level of iliocava junction (formation of inferior vena cava) was noted from body of L4 to L5-S1 disc, with average distance of 17mm from lower border of L5-S1 disc. Average width of inferior vena cava measured maximum at its formation i.e. 28mm. Width of right and left common iliac vein found almost equal. Angle made by left common iliac vein with inferior vena cava found most variable whereas that with right common iliac vein was constant. Average interiliac angle was 72.5 degrees. Left common iliac vein showed average 3 tributaries while right showed none or 1.

Key words: Iliocava junction; Aortic bifurcation; Lumbosacral spine.

The MCI issued the directives in 1997 resulting in compression of 1st MBBS curriculum into 1 year. It took both the teachers and students by surprise. The conscientious faculty felt committed to the cause of the students that demanded intense and speedy action. We deliberated to devise methods for improvement. Meetings were organised with representatives from each dissection table once a fortnight. The outcome of the interactions motivated us to modify the teaching methodology to meet the requirements. Thereafter, we got the efforts put in by us evaluated by the students. For this a questionnaire was given to the students after passing 1st MBBS examination. Data was compiled for three consecutive years. Students came up with suggestions and were forthright in pointing out the shortcomings of a particular teacher. Their views were taken sportingly and efforts made to improve and comply with some of the worthy suggestions. Many issues concerning the effectiveness, fairness, and reliability of using student feedback as a method to improve teaching performance have been discussed.

Keywords: Compression of 1st MBBS Curriculum; Modified teaching technology; Effectiveness of feedback.

Body donation’ is the donation of the whole body after death for medical research and education. Medical institutes use cadavers to teach anatomy by corpse dissection but cadavers are now a scarcity with mushrooming of medical institutions in our country and it is also not deniable that opening new medical institutes is must to balance the doctor-population ratio. Presently it is a daunting task to make students well-versed with the anatomy due to lack of cadavers and so the students are being taught by software, charts and models. Under Anatomy Act of India, the unclaimed bodies have limitations and mostly they are not useful; and the practice of burial or cremation of corpse is a trend in India. So the only source of cadavers is the donated bodies but there is paucity of awareness regarding the gracious and ideal act of body donation. Present work simply tried to assess the views, thoughts and awareness of the public of various field about the concept of body donation by a questionnaire; analysed and concluded with the ideas that (i) the books and computer cannot replicate the hands on method of teaching human anatomy and replace the human body dissection (ii) availability of cadavers is must for delivering excellence in teaching anatomy and conducting researches in the field of medical science (iii) ‘Body Donation Awareness’ by public campaigns, exhibitions etc. in large scale is the uttermost necessity for lacking cadavers and so the encouraging & motivating body donation by bringing ‘body donation awareness’ is the only solution for the scarcity of cadavers in Medical Education in India and (iv) in the spring of each year, the Institute should organize a memorial service to honor their donors from the previous year. Family members and friends of the donor should be invited. 

Keywords: Body donation, Dissection, Anatomy Act, Campaign, Replicate