1. 50 heart specimens (30 ABS cast and 20 dissected specimens) were used to study the origin, course and diameter of the branches of the atrial artery. And some measurements were made. 2. Most of the S-A node artery are the first or second anterior atrial branch. In 26 cases (52%), it arises from the right coronary artery, with a diameter of 1.2～ 2.2mm; and in 24 cases (48%)from the left coronary artery, with a diameter of 1.1～ 2.0mm. Their courses are closely related with the anterior interatrial sulcus and the interatrial muscular bundle. Most of the right and left S-A node arteries take a counter-clockwise course and end at the orifice of the superior vena cava. During their course around the orifice of the superior vena cava, a descending loop is present in the posterior interatrial sulcus, only in two cases which is different from McAlpine's observation. Only in 6 cases the origin of the S-A node artery is at the other site, i. e. 4 from left circumflex atrial artery, and 2 from the extension of the terminal branch of the right coronary artery. 3. Kugel's artery usually arises from these branches of the promixal part of the right or left coronary artery, i. e. from the left or right S-A node artery, or from the left or right anterior atrial artery. It usually penetrates into the septum at the anterior interatrial sulcus, with a diameter of 0.1～1.2mm, during penetration. In the septum it has a constant course around the inferior border of the fossa ovalis and may be anastomosed with the branches of the right and left coronary artery at the posterior wall of the atrium. This is an important collteral circulation of the coronary artery. 4. A-V node artery usually arises from the right coronary artery, 94%; and only a small portion, 6%, from the left coronary artery. Its diameter is around 0.4～1.9 mm. Usually only one A-V node artery is present. Double A-V node artery is observedonly in 2 cases both of them are arising from the right coronary artery. In 2 cases, A-V node artery arises from the posterior ventricular branches, penetrates into the posterior wall of the left ventricule, runs between the right and left atrioventricular foramin and reaches the A-V node. In 44.23% of the 50 specimens, A-V node artery take its origin from the top of the "U" turn of the coronary artery at the crux. In 36.5% of the specimen the artery originates from the plain straight type of coronary artery; in the other 19.24% though the "U-turn" is present, but the artery does not originate from the top of the turn. The course of the artery is generally along the midline between the right and left atrio-ventricular foramina, and rarely along the borders of the left or right afrioventricular foramina. 5. The clinical importances of the topographical characteristics are discussed.

1.There were 80 heart specimens(age:17～95,with no marked pathological chauges) used to observe the origin,course and the site of anastomosis of the atrial arteries. 2.Within the 80 specimens there are 34 hearts with anastomoses,and the frequen- cies of the anastomoses are 53,including one case of anastomosis between an artery of extracorary origin and the atrial artery. 3.The commonest site of the anastomosis is the posterior wall of the left atrium, there are 23 cases(43.40%)within the 53.The other sites are the base of interatrial septum,13 cases(24.53%);anterior wall of the atrium,13 cases(24.53%);the lateral wall of the right atrium and the orifice the superior vena cava being 2 cases respecti- vely(3.77%). 4.The diameters of the anastomosis are as follows:In the A.B.S.casts:We have measured the anastomotic diameter in 38 cases.Most of them are within the range of 100～200?m in 20 cases(52.6%),200～300?m in 9 cases(23.6%). In dissecting specimens:Within the measured 19 cases,50～100?m in 8 cases (42.1%),100～200?m in 5 cases(26.3%),200～300?m in 3 cases(15.8%),300～ 500?m in 3 cases(15.8%).Among the adult hearts,it seems that the diameter of the anastomosis and the site of the anastomosis are not increased by advancement of the age. 5.The origin of the anastomotic branch of the A-V node artery is near the A-V node.This is very important for the blood supply of A-V node,when there is patholo- gical changes of the coronary artery. 6.Since there is a great range of variation in the diameter of the anastomosis and the formation of the anastomosis,such as two-branches-form,three-branches-form, four-branches-form,or network-like anastomosis,perhaps,the morphological charact- eristics of the anastomosis is closely related with the pathogensis of coronary artery. 7.In this set of specimen,we have observed three cases in which the ventricular branches of the coronary artery joined the anastomosis on the wall of the atrium.

Objective To reconstruct the three-dimensional(3D) image and to study on the virtual anatomy of the thigh part based on computed tomography(CT) data source. Methods Ten patients' contrast-enhanced light-speed CT images of the thigh part were chosen, “3D medical studio” was applied to read CT data, then to reconstruct and anatomize the thigh part. Results The reconstructed 3D images of the thigh part were realistically pseudocolored displayed, it was composed of four kinds of tissues(skin, muscle, skeleton and artery) and could be freely rotated and incised and restored for many times at any shape and depth on real time. Its' layers were distinct among tissues. Conclusion This research realizd partial function of virtual anatomy, it may play a definite role on regional anatomy and sectional image anatomy teaching and clinical radiology diagnosis.

Objective To reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) image of heart and coronary artery on internet and explore the reliability. Methods After the contrast medium was injected into coronary artery of 2 heart specimens, hearts were scanned by UFCT with enhancement volume. One patient's UFCT images of coronary artery angiography were also chosen.Then the primitive images were transposed format, removed noise, specified interesting areas. 3D software on server was applied to reconstruct heart and coronary artery. Results The reconstructed 3D images of the heart and coronary artery were realistically displayed, freely rotated and transected.Main parts and branches of coronary artery were similar to those in the images of the UFCT. Conclusion Heart and coronary artery can be reconstructed on internet,which offers a new approach for reconstructing organs and tissues of human being.;

UNLABELLEDThis study was conducted to reconstruct three-dimensional medical images based on web and to achieve highly realistic display. Using the volume rendering techniques to reconstruct and display three-dimensional images in Java Applet program and utilizing signed Applets for solving security problem, We got two-dimensional images of human organs from ultrafast CT as sources and reconstructed the organs configuration of heart, coronary artery, head, cervical vertebrae, and pelvis. This reconstruction can be run in Web browser on different kinds of computers and for virtual surgical planning.

CONCLUSIONS1. Three-dimensional medical image reconstruction in Web browser implemented by Java Applet is feasible, which will prompt clinical use of three-dimensional images. 2. The solid conformation of human organs, especially the anatomic structure of the coronary artery, can be displayed by using three-dimensional reconstruction techniques, which may offer more information to clinics.

Coronary Vessels ; anatomy & histology ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Internet ; Software

Electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) can detect the atherosclerotic calcification of coronary artery qualitatively and quantitatively. It was also verified that the atherosclerotic calcification was directly related to the atherosclerotic extent and had a limited relation to the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD). So EBCT is one of the good non-invasive methods for predicting the risk of CHD. However, there are some problems in the calcification parameters (calcification area, calcification score) adopted by EBCT which have high variability and low reproducibility. As a result, these parameters have imperfection and need to be improved further. This research provides a new calcification parameter (calcification volume) which makes the use of three dimensional information of all calcific pixels in EBCT scanning images of coronary artery. After experiment in 11 human coronary artery specimens, it was testified that calcification volume had a lower variability than calcification area and calcification score in 25% percentile, median, 75% percentile, Mean, respectively. P value of t test in Mean variability is 0.027, and 0.058. These results suggest that calcification volume may be a new calcification parameter.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods