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The system of anatomical nomenclature needs to be logical and consistent. However, variations in translation to English of the Latin and Greek terminology used in Nomina Anatomica and Terminologia Anatomica have led to some inconsistency in the nomenclature of cutaneous nerves in the limbs. An historical review of cutaneous nerve nomenclature reveals that there are two general naming conventions: one primarily American and one primarily British. The American convention presents cutaneous nerves of the limbs in the format "medial brachial cutaneous nerve", while the British convention presents the same nerve as "medial cutaneous nerve of the arm", thereby translating "brachii" to "of the arm". If logically and consistently applied throughout the body, the British convention would rename the sural nerve to the "nerve of the calf", the brachial artery would become the "artery of the arm", the femoral nerve would be "nerve of the thigh", and femur would be "bone of the thigh" or "thigh bone". The British convention leads to many other nomenclatural inconsistencies, which would seem to make learning anatomy more difficult for the beginning student. In this era of contracting anatomy curricula, every effort should be made to keep anatomical nomenclature simple, logical, and consistent. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

Background Nearly every 2 minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman dies because of complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Every such death is an overwhelming catastrophe for everyone confronted with it. Most deaths occur in developing countries, especially in Africa and southern Asia, but a significant number also occur in the developed world. Methods We examined the available data on the progress and the challenges to the United Nations' fifth Millennium Development Goal of achieving a 75 percent worldwide reduction in the maternal mortality by 2015 from what it was in 1990. Results Some countries, such as Belarus, Egypt, Estonia, Honduras, Iran, Lithuania, Malaysia, Romania, Sri Lanka and Thailand, are likely to meet the target by 2015. Many poor countries with weak health infrastructures and high fertility rates are unlikely to meet the goal. Some, such as Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Guyana, Lesotho, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, had worse maternal mortality ratios in 2010 than in 1990, partially because of wars and civil strife. Worldwide, the leading causes of maternal death are still hemorrhage, hypertension, sepsis, obstructed labor, and unsafe abortions, while indirect causes are gaining in importance in developed countries. Conclusions Maternal death is especially distressing if it was potentially preventable. However, as there is no single cause, there is no silver bullet to correct the problem. Many countries also face new challenges as their childbearing population is growing in age and in weight. Much remains to be done to make safe motherhood a reality. ( BIRTH 40:2 June 2013) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Was the Falkland conflict either preventable or predictable? Based on the available evidence, it is apparent that the British could not have been expected to foresee the outbreak of the war. Both Argentina and Britain relied on simplistic and misleading preconceptions or strategic assumptions, leading to a war that might have been avoidable. Issues of conflict and crisis warning are illuminated in this essay, and the Falklands War is related to past instances of "warning failure" and surprise attack. The crucial importance of the strategic logic of decision makers is emphasized. In addition, the lessons of the war for the 1980s highlight the changing nature of the international systemic context and the heightened prospects for crisis and conflict both between allies and within the third world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:: Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation (ESPAL) is the intervention of choice for refractory epistaxis in specialist ear, nose and throat (ENT)units and should be within the repertoire of competencies for all ENT trainees. Following its recent incorporation within the United Kingdom competency-based training syllabus as an explicit outcome standard, the ESPAL is not uncommonly being delivered by trainees under appropriate supervision. We assessed the efficacy and outcome of ESPAL in epistaxis management within our teaching hospitals., Methods:: Retrospective, structured review of all ESPAL procedures performed for epistaxis between December 2005 and December 2013. The techniques of ligation, operator grade, and outcome were studied., Results:: Sixty-five patients (41 male:24 female; average age of 58.2 years) were identified in whom 67 artery ligations were performed (63 unilateral; 2 bilateral). Overall, success rate of ESPAL was 92.3% (60/65), with 5 rebleed cases recorded within 30 days of the primary procedure. Sixteen (24.6%) underwent "clipping," 26 (40.0%) had diathermy ligation, 18 (27.7%) had both clipping and diathermy, and in 5 (7.7%) patients, the ligation technique was not recorded. In 31 (47.7%) of 65 cases, a consultant was the principal surgeon. The remaining 34 (52.3%) of 65 cases were performed by trainees with (24, 70.6%) or without (10, 29.4%) supervision. There was no correlation between rebleed and operators' grade, level of supervision, or ligation technique., Conclusion:: With appropriate training, ESPAL can achieve hemostasis in teams of varying grades of operators without significant reduction in outcome. To further enhance the technical learning curve, the utility of simulation-based training could offer continuous and longitudinal development of skills.