Search

The aim of this study was to provide detailed information about the arterial vascularization of the splenium of the corpus callosum (CC). The splenium is unique in that it is part of the largest commissural tract in the brain and a region in which pathologies are seen frequently. An exact description of the arterial vascularization of this part of the CC remains under debate. Thirty adult human brains (60 hemispheres) were obtained from routine autopsies. Cerebral arteries were separately cannulated and injected with colored latex. Then, the brains were fixed in formaldehyde, and dissections were performed using a surgical microscope. The diameter of the arterial branches supplying the splenium of the CC at their origin was investigated, and the vascularization patterns of these branches were observed. Vascular supply to the splenium was provided by the anterior pericallosal artery (40%) from the anterior circulation and by the posterior pericallosal artery (88%) and posterior accessory pericallosal artery (50%) from the posterior circulation. The vascularization pattern of the splenium differs in each hemisphere and is usually supplied by multiple branches. The arterial vascularization of the splenium of the CC was studied comprehensively considering the ongoing debate and the inadequacy of the studies on this issue currently available in the literature. This anatomical knowledge is essential during the treatment of pathologies in this region and especially for splenial arteriovenous malformations.

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common operations in a junior surgical resident's postgraduate training. Short recall courses can improve junior residents' anatomy knowledge and results in better surgical outcomes. We aimed to investigate the effect of a short course on anatomical competency during inguinal hernia repairs.During the first 25 inguinal hernia repairs, two junior residents were asked to identify iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, and genital branch of genitofemoral nerves. Then, the residents were given a short recall course by anatomists. Afterwards, the participants were taken into an in-vivo anatomy test again. The same parameters were recorded in another 25 inguinal hernia repairs. In addition to the nerve identification records, case characteristics [body mass index (BMIor = 25 vs.25), hernia type (indirect vs. direct), and anesthesia used (general or regional vs. local)] were recorded.Anatomy education had a clear impact on the correct identification rates for the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves. The rates increased from 70% to 90% and above. Correct identification rate for the three nerves together significantly increased from 16 to 52% following anatomy education (P = 0.006). All three nerves were identified with significantly higher success rates after anatomy education. The increase in the success rate for identification of the genital branch of genitofemoral nerve was 4-fold.Short anatomy courses in specific subjects for junior surgical residents given by formal anatomists may be effective during postgraduate education. The benefit obtained in the present study for the inguinal region nerves may be expanded to more important anatomical structures, such as the recurrent laryngeal nerve in a thyroidectomy, or more complex subjects.

The arteries of the anterior perforated substance (APS) are important due to their role in supplying blood to important internal structures such as the internal capsule, putamen and caudate nucleus. The purpose of this study was to investigate in detail the arteries of the APS.The arteries of the APS were investigated in 60 cerebral hemispheres from 30 adult cadaveric brains. The internal carotid arteries were cannulated and perfused with coloured latex. The branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) penetrating the APS were investigated. These arteries, known as the lateral lenticulostriate arteries and originating from the M1 segment, early temporal and early frontal branches of the MCA, were recorded.The branches of the anterior choroidal artery, which reached the APS, were seen in all specimens. We found one to three branches that arose from the A2 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) to the APS in all hemispheres, and one to three branches that originated from the A1 segment of the ACA in 48 hemispheres. In addition, two accessory MCAs that originated from the A2 segment of the ACA were recorded as variations, and perforating branches to the APS were observed.Serious complications like motor deficits can occur as a result of injury to the arteries of the APS. Hence, neurosurgeons performing operations such as aneurysm or insular tumour surgeries must be aware of the importance of preserving these arteries.

We aimed to study the neurovascular relationships between the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) and the abducens nerve to help determine the pathogenesis of abducens nerve palsy which can be caused by arterial compression. Twenty-two cadaveric brains (44 hemispheres) were investigated after injected of coloured latex in to the arterial system. The anterior inferior cerebellar artery originated as a single branch in 75%, duplicate in 22.7%, and triplicate in 2.3% of the hemispheres. Abducens nerves were located between the AICAs in all hemispheres when the AICA duplicated or triplicated. Additionally, we noted that the AICA or its main branches pierced the abducens nerve in five hemispheres (11.4%). The anatomy of the AICA and its relationship with the abducens nerve is very important for diagnosis and treatment.

There has recently been an increase in surgical interventions to the inferior temporal lobe. The aim of the present study is to examine the anatomical structure and relations of the anterior choroidal artery, which extends to this region. A mixture of latex and ink was injected into the internal carotid and basilar arteries of 15 brains from fresh cadavers. In 18 out of 30 cases (60%) the anterior choroidal artery arose from the posteroinferior aspect of the internal carotid artery, in 8 (22.2%) from the posterolateral aspect and in 4 (2%) from its anterior part. The diameter of the anterior choroidal artery was 0.94 mm on average (0.7-1.2) and the average distance from the posterior communicating artery was 5.3 mm (3.8-8 mm); its distance to the bifurcation of the carotid was found to be 4.0 mm on average (2.2-8 mm). The cisternal segment of the anterior choroidal artery and the optic tract formed a neurovascular bundle. The branches arising from the plexal segment supply the lateral geniculate body, the thalamus and the optic tract. The resulting knowledge of the neurovascular relations of the anterior choroidal artery provides a safe surgical approach to the inferior temporal lobe.