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INTRODUCTION: The clinically most important artery of the lower extremities is the popliteal artery. The normal branching pattern of the popliteal artery ranges between 92% and 96%. The branching pattern of the popliteal artery and its variations plays an important role for surgeons, radiologists, and anatomists during vascular grafting, surgical repair, embolectomy, knee replacements, diagnostic angiography, transluminal stent implementation, and transluminal angioplasty. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the variations in the branching pattern of the popliteal artery in the north Karnataka region and discuss its clinical application. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present observational study was conducted on the formalin-fixed 15 cadavers, from the Department of Anatomy, JGM Medical College, Hubballi. The popliteal artery and its branches were studied in 30 limbs of 5 male and 10 female cadavers. Detailed dissection was carried out according to Cunningham’s manual, the popliteal fossa was exposed, and the popliteal artery, its terminal branches, the level of termination, and its mode of termination were studied. RESULTS: In the present study, the largest and shortest lengths of the popliteal artery measured were 60.7 mm and 10.4 mm, respectively. The mean length of the popliteal artery on the right and left sides was 35.76 mm and 33.687 mm, respectively with P = 0.580. Level of termination of the popliteal artery was observed and noted. Normally, the popliteal artery terminates at the lower border of the popliteus muscle. The artery terminating at the upper border of the popliteus was defined as high termination and artery terminating far below the lower border of the popliteus was defined as low termination. In the present study, out of 30 dissected limb specimens, two limbs showed high termination and 28 limbs showed normal termination of the popliteal artery. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the variations of the branching pattern of the popliteal artery is important in planning surgeries and image-based interventions. Hence, the present study can be of help in selecting the treatment options at surgery and avoidance of iatrogenic injury.

Introduction: The muscles of posterior abdominal wall on each side of vertebral column include psoas group, quadratus lumborum and iliacus. The psoas muscle group comprises of major, minor and tertius. The psoas major is present in all individuals. Psoas minor is often absent in 40% of the cases. Psoas minor muscle has racial and morphometric variations. Aim: To find the incidence and morphology of psoas minor in South Indian population and discuss its clinical implications. Materials and Methods: The present observational cadaveric study was done on 30 embalmed cadavers for teaching purpose from November 2017 to December 2020 at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi, Karnataka, India. Cadavers in the study were of the age group between 50-60 years. Out of 30 cadavers, five were females and 25 were males. In cadavers with presence of psoas minor muscle following parameters were photographed and studied: unilateral or bilateral, origin, insertion, nerve supply, total length of musculotendinous unit, length of muscle belly, length of tendon, width and circumference at its widest point. Vernier calipers, measuring tape, scale and inelastic thread were used to note various parameters and were tabulated. Results: Out of 30 cadavers, psoas minor was present in 10 cadavers (two female and eight male), bilateral in five and unilateral in five cadavers. The incidence of presence of psoas minor muscle in the present study is 33.33% (two female 6.67% and eight male 26.67%). Conclusion: The psoas minor muscle being vestigial and inconstant, its morphology is highly variable. But the incidence of psoas minor is quiet significant (33.33%). Hence knowledge of psoas minor is important to anatomists for academic purpose and to clinicians for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Introduction: Superior border of scapula is thin and presents the suprascapular notch. The superior transverse ligament bridges across the notch, which is attached laterally to the root of the coracoid process and medially to the limit of the notch. Notch is converted into foramen, through which passes the suprascapular nerve to the supraspinous fossa; the suprascapular vessels. The superior transverse ligament may be completely or incompletely ossified and it is one of the predisposing factors for suprascapular nerve entrapment neuropathy. Aim: To study the ossification of superior transverse scapular ligament and its clinical importance. Materials and Methods: The present osteological study was carried on 77 (34 right side and 43 left side) dry adult human scapulae of both sexes obtained during undergraduate teaching from October 2015 to September 2016. Scapulae with suprascapular foramen were studied. Superior transverse ligament was observed for complete or incomplete ossification. Results: The incidence of the suprascapular foramen in the present study was 3.89% (2.59% completely ossified and 1.29% incompletely ossified superior transverse ligament). Conclusion: Complete or incomplete ossified superior transverse scapular ligament may lead to narrowing of the suprascapular notch forming a foramen and thus give rise to suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. An awareness of suprascapular foramen is important to the anatomists, radiologists, neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons. Existence of suprascapular foramen alters the surgical technique or arthroscopic decompression of the suprascapular nerve.