OBJECTIVE: To provide the clinical anatomic data of the lingual artery with 3D CT reconstruction. METHOD: Ten healthy subjects were recruited. Spiral CT scan ranged from the sternoclavicular joint to the lower edge of the orbit and the data was subjected to three-dimensional reconstruction. The distance from the origin of the lingual artery to the bifurcation of the common carotid artery and tip of the greater horn of hyoid bone were measured respectively and the distance between the midline of the lingual artery and the midline of tongue were also measured. RESULT: The horizontal distance between starting level of lingual artery to the level of the hyoid horn tip was (1.51 +/- 0.35) cm. The horizontal distance between the level of the lingual artery to the carotid bifurcation was (0.95 +/- 0.31) cm. The comparison of the distance from lingual artery 1 cm anterior or posterior to foramen cecum to midline of tongue showed (t = 45.27, P < 0.01) a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION The lingual artery could be demonstrated clearly in 3D reconstruction. To ensure the operative safety, the depth of radiofrequency for OSAHS at the tongue base should be limited within 2 centimeters.
Adult ; Aged ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Carotid Artery, Common ; anatomy & histology ; Carotid Artery, External ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tongue ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the microsurgical anatomy of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) for neurosurgery.

METHODSTwenty Chinese adult brain samples (40 sides) were measured with microscope for the diameters, lengths, origins, courses, and the branches of the PICA. The relationship between the PICA and cranial nerves was also checked.

RESULTSThere were 35 PICAs in 20 brain samples. The mean diameter of the PICAs was (1.6 +/- 0.6) mm, the mean length from PICAs' origin of vertebral artery to the vertebrobasilar junction was (16 +/- 5) mm. In 35 PICAs, 28 PICAs go through the rootlets of XII cranial nerves, 7 PICAs go through inferior XII cranial nerves, and 32 PICAs go through the rootlets of XI cranial nerves.

CONCLUSIONSPICA is an important branch artery with more variation and complex relationship to the cranial nerves trend in the vertebral artery system. It is necessary to master the microsurgical anatomy of PICA and to be careful protection during the neurosurgical operations.

Adult ; Carotid Artery, Common ; anatomy & histology ; Cerebellum ; blood supply ; Cerebral Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Cranial Nerves ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Vertebral Artery ; anatomy & histology

INTRODUCTIONNourishment for the brain, a highly vascular organ, is derived from a unique structure called the 'circle of Willis', which is formed by the terminal branches of the internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and basilar arteries (BAs). The circle of Willis forms an anastomotic link between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems in the arterial supply of the brain, while the BA forms an important component of the brain's posterior circulation and supplies its many vital parts.

METHODSA study was performed on 20 brain specimens used for routine dissections at the Anatomy Department, Kasturba Medical College, in order to examine the morphology of BAs in the brain.

RESULTSIn most specimens, the position of the termination of BA was normal, although variations were present in the mode of termination. In one specimen, the BA terminated by dividing into two superior cerebellar arteries. The posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) arose from ICAs on both sides in this specimen, and a communicating branch was present between the terminal point of the BA and PCA on the left. In another specimen, unilateral variation was seen, with the PCA arising from the ICA on the right and a posterior communicating artery arising from the PCA, connecting it with the BA. The anatomy on the left side was normal.

CONCLUSIONWe highlight the morphological aspects of the BA, the knowledge of which would help neurosurgeons safely diagnose, as well as plan and execute vascular bypass and shunting procedures for the treatment of stenosis, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations in the posterior cranial fossa.

Basilar Artery ; abnormalities ; anatomy & histology ; Brain ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; Cadaver ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; anatomy & histology ; Circle of Willis ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; anatomy & histology

Although metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and the development of atherosclerosis, consensus is still lacking on the status of cardiovascular function and geometry in MetS patients. We investigated the relation between MetS and left ventricle (LV) geometry and function, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial stiffness in a community-based cohort of 702 adult subjects. Subjects were categorized into three groups according to the number of MetS components present, as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines: 1) Absent (0 criteria), 2) Pre-MetS (1-2 criteria) or 3) MetS (> or =3 criteria). In female subjects, LV mass, LV mass/height(2.7), deceleration time, and aortic pulse wave velocity increased, and E/A ration decreased in a stepwise manner across the three groups. These changes were not observed in male subjects. The mean carotid IMT was higher in the MetS group than in the other two groups. The degree of MetS clustering is found to be strongly correlated with geometric eccentricity of LV hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction and arterial changes irrespective of age and blood pressure status, particularly in females. Waist circumference is found to have the most powerful effect on cardiovascular parameters.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology/*physiopathology ; Cardiovascular System/pathology/*physiopathology ; Carotid Arteries/anatomy & histology/physiology ; *Cohort Studies ; Female ; Heart Ventricles/anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; *Rural Population ; Ventricular Function, Left/physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method of harvesting of superficial cervical artery island skin flap, and its clinical application in the repair of the maxillofacial and cervical scars.

METHODSThe origin, course, branches and distribution of the superficial cervical artery were studied in 10 adult cadavers. The superficial cervical artery could be divided into three segments: i.e. the segment before entering the trapezius muscle, the segment in the trapezius muscle, and the segment emerging from the trapezius muscle. Fourteen patients with maxillofacial and cervical scar contracture were enrolled in the study. The postburn scars were removed, and the wounds were covered by superficial cervical artery island skin flaps. The survival of the flap after the operation and the recovery of the neck movements were observed.

RESULTSThe length of superficial cervical artery before entering the trapezius muscle was 5.1 +/- 0.4 cm, while that inside the trapezius muscle was 2.1 +/- 0.5 cm, and that after emerging from the trapezius muscle was 4.7 +/- 0.7 cm, respectively. The internal perforating branch was located 7.3 +/- 0.6 cm beside the seventh cervical vertebrae, and 3.9 +/- 0.7 cm above the spine of scapula. The flap was from 16 cm x 7 cm to 35 cm x 12 cm in size. All the flaps survived, except one with partial necrosis in the distal part (3.0 cm x 1.5 cm) of the flap. Follow-up observation for 4 months to 3 years showed satisfactory results.

CONCLUSIONSuperficial cervical artery island skin flap is simple in the flap preparation, and there is no necessity to cut the pedicle, thus it is particularly suitable for the reconstruction of severe postburn maxillofacial and cervical contracture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carotid Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Child ; Cicatrix ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; surgery ; Neck Injuries ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Scalp ; surgery ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply

OBJECTIVEThe study aimed to explore the relationship between the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), homocysteine (Hcy) and other indices of laboratory and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome of dyslipidemia.

METHODSA total of 152 dyslipidemia patients and 8 healthy people (taken as the control group) were recruited. According to the theory of the TCM syndrome, 152 dyslipidemia patients were assigned to 4 groups: the stagnation of phlegm (SP) group, the blood stasis blocking channels (BSBC) group, the stagnation of phlegm and blood (SPB) group and the non-stagnation of phlegm and blood (NSPB) group. The carotid ultrasonic test, hs-CRP, Hcy, blood rheology and blood lipids were examined for all the recruited patients. The relationships among carotid IMT, laboratory indices and TCM syndrome of dyslipidemia were analyzed by the methods of F test and multiple linear regressions.

RESULTS(1) Carotid IMT was significantly different among groups of healthy people and different TCM syndromes. The sequence from lowest to highest was: healthy group, NSPB group, SP group, SPB group and BSBC group. (2) Triglyceride (TG) and blood rheology were significantly different between the groups of healthy people and different TCM syndromes. Among different TCM syndrome groups, TG and blood rheology in the NSPB group were the lowest, but were the highest in SPB group. (3) Hcy, very low density lipoprotein and TG were correlated with atherosclerosis of the carotid.

CONCLUSIONCarotid IMT, TG and blood rheology were closely correlated with the TCM syndrome of dyslipidemia. Atherosclerosis of the carotids would be prone to occur if one of these factors was heightened.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Carotid Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Dyslipidemias ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Homocysteine ; analysis ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Organ Size ; Research Design ; Syndrome ; Triglycerides ; analysis ; blood ; Tunica Intima ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography