There are major and minor salivary glands that aid in the digestive process. Major glands are discrete and exist in predictable locations; minor salivary glands are more widespread and usually found dispersed in the mucosa of the mouth.Glands have their own contractile abilities, which allow them to secrete products without the assistance of vasculature or skeletal, or smooth muscle. This study will describe a cadaveric histological specimen in which an ectopic buccal gland was embedded within bucinator muscle fibers. Potential causes and explanations for this finding will be discussed, as well.

Methods: The FT and FA of dried C1 and C2 vertebrae (identified bones; n=107, males=53 and females=54) were observed and measured using a Digital Vernier Caliper (Mitutoyo, Kawasaki, Japan). Anteroposterior (AP) and transverse diameters of the left and right FTs (n=214) were measured and compared between sexes. Variations and types of FT and FA found on the upper vertebrae were recorded and classified. Results: The FT shape of the Thai C1 was AP elliptical, while of that of C2 was transverse elliptical. Compared to females, both diameters of the upper spine were significantly greater in males except for the AP diameter of C2 on the right side. All diameters were significantly different in both sexes and sides except for the AP diameter of C1 and C2. A common type of FT classified in C1 was type 2 (male [69.81%], female [79.63%]) whereas for C2 it was type 1 (male [63.21%], female [59.26%]). Moreover, an incomplete osseous bridge was a major FA subtype observed in the Thai spine. Conclusions FT morphometry has an elliptical shape and diameters are greater in males. The FT and FA variations identified in this study will be useful for surgeons treating vertebral neurovascular injuries of the posterior upper cervical spine in the Thai population.

Porotic hyperostosis (PH) is the expansion of the cranial diploë, generating ‘hair-on-end’ appearance on X-rays. This condition is extremely rare and had a prevalence of 0.08%. It is alternatively known as cribra orbitalia (CO) when the orbital roof is affected. In this study, we describe the gross morphology of two skulls affected by PH and CO. The first skull belonged to a 41-year-old female previously diagnosed with beta thalassemia. The skull was affected by excessive PH and CO. The second skull, belonging to a 35-year-old male diagnosed with unspecified thalassemia, showed PH without CO. The etiology of PH and CO is discussed. In conclusion, PH and CO are extremely rare, and are of significant importance for radiologists and anatomists when interpreting radiographs or encountering unusual gross morphology of the skull.

Porotic hyperostosis (PH) is the expansion of the cranial diploë, generating ‘hair-on-end’ appearance on X-rays. This condition is extremely rare and had a prevalence of 0.08%. It is alternatively known as cribra orbitalia (CO) when the orbital roof is affected. In this study, we describe the gross morphology of two skulls affected by PH and CO. The first skull belonged to a 41-year-old female previously diagnosed with beta thalassemia. The skull was affected by excessive PH and CO. The second skull, belonging to a 35-year-old male diagnosed with unspecified thalassemia, showed PH without CO. The etiology of PH and CO is discussed. In conclusion, PH and CO are extremely rare, and are of significant importance for radiologists and anatomists when interpreting radiographs or encountering unusual gross morphology of the skull.

Transverse basilar cleft (TBC) is an extremely rare variation of the clivus or the basilar part of the occipital bone.In this report, a unilateral transverse basilar fissure was found at the clivus in a head computed tomography of an 18-yearold female patient diagnosed with hemifacial microsomia (HFM). Image analysis of this patient showed shortening of the ramus of the right mandible along with medial displacement of the right temporomandibular joint and hypoplastic right maxilla. In addition, observation of the clivus showed a cleft between the basioticum and basioccipital bones at the level of the pharyngeal tubercle on the right side. This cleft was identified as TBC. Clival variations, TBC included, attributed to HFM have never been reported. This report draws attention to the complex relationship between abnormal development of clivus and HFM syndrome, and sheds light on a possible genetic and molecular association between these two conditions.

Methods: A total of 300 dried lumbar columns were used to measure the pedicle height (PH) and width (PW), length for cortical bone trajectory (LCT), cephalad screw angle (CSA), axial cortical bone trajectory angle (ACA), and possible cortical zones for the CBT. Results: The following average values were calculated: PH in L1, 15.09±1.44 mm; PW in L5, 16.96±2.42 mm; LCT in L3, 35.75±2.61 mm; CSA in L1, 20.85°±2.30°; and ACA in L5, 21.83°±2.49°. Women generally had shorter PH and PW than men, with significant differences across lumbar levels. The LCT was significantly shorter in women and was notably different between the left and right sides. The CSA and ACA varied significantly between sexes and sides, with specific lumbar levels showing wider angles in one sex over the other. The most common cortical zones for screw tips were Z3 and Z10, with high incidences across all lumbar levels. Conclusions This study presents detailed lumbar vertebral morphometry data specific to the Thai population. The results are essential for CBT application in screw fixation procedures. This information will contribute to the production of optimally designed screws for Thai patients in the future.

Transverse basilar cleft (TBC) is an extremely rare variation of the clivus or the basilar part of the occipital bone.In this report, a unilateral transverse basilar fissure was found at the clivus in a head computed tomography of an 18-yearold female patient diagnosed with hemifacial microsomia (HFM). Image analysis of this patient showed shortening of the ramus of the right mandible along with medial displacement of the right temporomandibular joint and hypoplastic right maxilla. In addition, observation of the clivus showed a cleft between the basioticum and basioccipital bones at the level of the pharyngeal tubercle on the right side. This cleft was identified as TBC. Clival variations, TBC included, attributed to HFM have never been reported. This report draws attention to the complex relationship between abnormal development of clivus and HFM syndrome, and sheds light on a possible genetic and molecular association between these two conditions.

Methods: A total of 300 dried lumbar columns were used to measure the pedicle height (PH) and width (PW), length for cortical bone trajectory (LCT), cephalad screw angle (CSA), axial cortical bone trajectory angle (ACA), and possible cortical zones for the CBT. Results: The following average values were calculated: PH in L1, 15.09±1.44 mm; PW in L5, 16.96±2.42 mm; LCT in L3, 35.75±2.61 mm; CSA in L1, 20.85°±2.30°; and ACA in L5, 21.83°±2.49°. Women generally had shorter PH and PW than men, with significant differences across lumbar levels. The LCT was significantly shorter in women and was notably different between the left and right sides. The CSA and ACA varied significantly between sexes and sides, with specific lumbar levels showing wider angles in one sex over the other. The most common cortical zones for screw tips were Z3 and Z10, with high incidences across all lumbar levels. Conclusions This study presents detailed lumbar vertebral morphometry data specific to the Thai population. The results are essential for CBT application in screw fixation procedures. This information will contribute to the production of optimally designed screws for Thai patients in the future.

The nervus conarii provides sympathetic nerve innervation to the pineal gland, which is thought to be the primary type of stimulus to this gland. This underreported nerve has been mostly studied in animals. One function of the nervus conarii may be to activate pinealocytes to produce melatonin. Others have also found substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from the nervus conarii ending in the pineal gland. The following paper reviews the extant medical literature on the nervus conarii including its anatomy and potential function.