OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution of the blood vessels in the integument tissue of the channel area of legs.

METHODSThe integument tissue of the lower limbs in the 12 cadavers were dissected with macro-and micro-dissection, radiographical technique of systemic artery and technique of image pattern analysis to observe and analyze the origins, branches and anastomoses in the integument tissues along the channels of legs.

RESULTSThe distributional density of the blood vessels in the integument tissues of legs along the channel area of the three-yin meridians of the foot, the Gallbladder Meridian, and the Urinary Bladder Meridian was higher than that in the other parts. They formed an obvious nutrient vascular chain on the arteriogram. The distributional density in the channel area of the Stomach Meridian was not obviously increased and the obvious nutrient vascular chain could not be seen.

CONCLUSIONAn obvious nutrient vascular chain is formed in the integument tissue along the channel area of legs except the Stomach Meridian.

Blood Vessels ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Leg ; blood supply ; Meridians

The corticospinal tract (CST) is the most important motor pathway in the human brain. Detailed knowledge of CST somatotopy is important in terms of rehabilitative management and invasive procedures for patients with brain injuries. In this study, I conducted a review of nine previous studies of the somatotopical location and arrangement at the brainstem in the human brain. The results of this review indicated that the hand and leg somatotopies of the CST are arranged medio-laterally in the mid to lateral portion of the cerebral peduncle, ventromedial-dorsolaterally in the pontine basis, and medio-laterally in the medullary pyramid. However, few diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have been conducted on this topic, and only nine have been reported: midbrain (2 studies), pons (4 studies), and medulla (1 study). Therefore, further DTI studies should be conducted in order to expand the literature on this topic. In particular, research on midbrain and medulla should be encouraged.
Brain Stem/*anatomy & histology ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Hand/innervation ; Humans ; Leg/innervation ; Medulla Oblongata/anatomy & histology ; Pons/anatomy & histology ; Pyramidal Tracts/*anatomy & histology/physiology ; Tegmentum Mesencephali/anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo document the vascular anatomy of the distally based superficial sural artery flap and to study the vascular anastomoses between the superficial sural artery and the septocutaneous perforators of the peroneal artery.

METHODSTen fresh human cadavers were injected with lead oxide, gelatin and water. Twenty lags were then dissected and an overall map of the cutaneous vasculature was constructed. Vascular communications between the superficial sural artery and the lowest septocutaneous perforator of the peroneal artery was evaluated to determine the cutaneous vascular territory of the superficial sural flap. The distally based superficial sural artery island flap was used in 26 cases.

RESULTSThere is constant vascular anastomosis between the superficial sural artery and the lowest septocutaneous perforator of the peroneal artery. The 26 flaps survived uneventfully except for two of partial fat necrosis.

CONCLUSIONThe anatomic information enhances our understanding of flap design.

Blood Vessels ; anatomy & histology ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Leg ; anatomy & histology ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Sural Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Surgery, Plastic ; Surgical Flaps

Acupuncture ; history ; Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Leg ; anatomy & histology ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a method to partially remove gastrocnemius for improvement of the contour of the leg.

METHODSThirteen patients with bulked calf were undergoing the treatment. With a self-designed apparatus, the gastrocnemius was partially removed by placing the device in the muscle through an incision in the popliteal fossa. The follow-ups were carried out for 1-6 months.

RESULTSThirteen patients were successfully treated by above mentioned technique. The removed amount of muscle was weighted between 11 g and 201 g, averaged 77 g. All of the patients could be able to walk three days after the operation. But, the normal walk had to take 1 month after of the surgery for recovering. The function of the ankle joint was not obviously influenced.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned technique is a safe and effective method for re-contouring the leg.

Cosmetic Techniques ; Early Ambulation ; Humans ; Leg ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Muscle, Skeletal ; surgery ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the anatomy of lateral crural skin flap nourished by cutaneous branches of peroneal artery and its clinical application as vascularized skin flap transfer.

METHODSIn 20 cadavers specimen with 40 lower limbs, the cutaneous branches of the peroneal artery were dissected and their measurements were recorded. In the other 30 adult legs, their perforating points of the cutaneous arteries of peroneal artery were detected with supersonic Doppler flow meter. With the aid of anatomic and supersonic Doppler flow meter study, vascularized transfer of lateral crural skin flap pedicled by cutaneous branches of peroneal artery were successfully performed in 21 clinical cases.

RESULTSIn altogether 40 legs studied, 140 cutaneous branches were found. One to seven branches were found on one specimen, the average was 3.5 branches, in one leg was a high perforating skin branch. The perforating points of the cutaneous branches were mostly (76% cases) appeared within 7 - 21 cm length below the protruding point of head of fibula. The external diameter of the thickest cutaneous branch of each leg was (1 .4 - 2.9) mm, (1.8 +/- 0.4) mm, while the external diameters of two vena concomitants were (3.0 +/- 0.5) mm and (2.4 +/- 0.4) mm. 145 artery perforating points in 30 legs were detected by Doppler, with an average points of 4.8. The skin flaps taken in the 21 clinical cases were 5.0 cm x 3.5 cm - 28 cm x 11 cm in size. All the transferred free flaps survived uneventfully.

CONCLUSIONSThe lateral crural skin flap is nourished by a variable number of cutaneous branches of peroneal artery. The main branch can meet the demand of microvascular anastomosis. The free transfer of lateral crural flap by anastomosis of cutaneous branch of peroneal artery is superior to lateral skin flap transfer by anastomosis of main trunk of peroneal artery with the merit of simple procedure, minimal trauma and more physiological circulation established.

Adult ; Aged ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Humans ; Leg ; blood supply ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance is important in the assessment and treatment of patellofemoral disorders. However, normal and pathological TT-TG values have not been established in Koreans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the TT-TG distance in the Korean population using lower leg rotational profile computed tomography (CT) scans. METHODS: One hundred rotational profile CT scans were retrospectively collected from patients without knee joint problems aged between 25 to 82 years. TT-TG distances were measured, and statistical analysis was performed. Each CT scan was measured twice in a blinded, randomized manner by three reviewers. Patients with pre-existing knee joint problems were excluded from the study; hence 15 of the 100 patients were excluded because of deformity or unreadable CT scans. Thus, 85 of the 100 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of TT-TG distance measurements was good. The median TT-TG distance for this Korean population was 11.24 mm (mean, 10.24 +/- 0.8 mm). TT-TG distance measured nearly 2 mm less on rotational profile CT scans. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the TT-TG distances on rotational profile CT scans were significantly correlated, indicating that they could be accepted. Furthermore, the values on CT scans showed good reliability. In this study, the TT-TG distance in normal Korean people was approximately 10.24 mm without significant differences in TT-TG values between genders.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Femur/*anatomy & histology/*diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Leg/anatomy & histology/diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Republic of Korea ; Tibia/*anatomy & histology/*diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution regulars of proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian regions in knee osteoarthritis patients.

METHODSSeven hundred and sixty-five knees were selected in 516 cases of knee osteoarthritis. Under the guidance of muscle meridian theory, with the anatomical features of muscle meridian focus, the frequency and the location where the proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian regions appeared were calculated by palpation.

RESULTSOf all the points, 11 835 points of proximal focus of muscle meridian regions were found out by palpation, and 9455 points of distal focus of muscle meridian regions were found out. The percentages of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian of Foot-Yangming, Foot-Taiyang, Foot-Shaoyang and three foot Yin meridians appeared at proximal points of knee were 37.1% (4388/11 835), 34.9% (4127/11 835), 9.5% (1129/11 835) and 18.5% (2191/11 835) respectively; and the percentage of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian appeared at distal points of knee were 24.7% (2333/9455), 25.2% (2380/9455), 28.5% (2700/9455) and 21.6% (2042/9455).

CONCLUSIONThe proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian in knee osteoarthritis patients are closely related with anatomy structure and biomechanical characteristics; the distribution regulars of focus of muscle meridians study provides evidence for the selection of effective treatment points from different clinical acupuncture therapies.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; anatomy & histology ; Leg ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; anatomy & histology ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Palpation

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes in lower limb deep vein diameters, blood flow velocity and blood biochemistry in full-term pregnant women for early diagnosis and treatment of prothrombotic state.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight full-term pregnant women at high risk of thrombosis (Group A), 61 healthy full-term pregnant women (Group B), and 42 healthy non-pregnant women (Group C) underwent high-resolution color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) for examining the deep veins of the lower limbs. The hematological indexes such as D-D, PLT, HGB, HCT, TT, APTT, PT, and FbgC were also observed in these 3 groups.

RESULTSCompared to Group B, the women in group A showed significantly increased diameters of the common femoral veins (CFV) and left superficial femoral vein (SFV), HCT and DD, but with significantly decreased peak blood flow in the bilateral popliteal veins (POPV) (P<0.01) and increased left POPV diameter (P=0.034). Compared to those in group C, the diameters of the bilateral CFVs, SFVs, POPV, and posterior tibial veins (PTVs) were significantly increased, but the peak blood flow in the bilateral CFVs and POPVs were significantly reduced in groups A and B; the PLT, HGB, HCT, DD, TT, APTT, PT, and FbgC also showed significant changes in groups A and B (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe full-term pregnant women are at higher risk of prothrombotic state than non-pregnant women, and the full-term pregnant women with the high risk factors for thrombosis are more likely to have prothrombotic state than healthy full-term pregnant women. CDU examination of the lower limb deep veins can be of value in the diagnosis of prothrombotic state.

Adult ; Anthropometry ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Humans ; Leg ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Popliteal Vein ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; physiology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether low calf circumference (CC) could predict nutritional risk and the cutoff values of CC for predicting nutritional risk in hospitalized patients aged ⪖ 80 years. METHODS: A total of 1,234 consecutive patients aged ⪖ 80 years were enrolled in this study. On admission, demographic data, CC, and laboratory parameters were obtained. Patients with Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) total score ⪖ 3 were considered as having nutritional risk. RESULTS: CC values were significantly lower in patients with nutritional risk compared to those in patients without nutritional risk [27.00 (24.50-31.00) vs. 31.00 (29.00-33.50], P < 0.001]. CC was negatively correlated with age and nutritional risk scores. Logistic regression analysis of nutritional risk revealed that body mass index, albumin level, hemoglobin level, cerebral infarction, neoplasms, and CC (OR, 0.897; 95% confidence interval, 0.856-0.941; P < 0.001) were independent impact factors of nutritional risk. Nutritional risk scores increased with a decrease in CC. In men, the best CC cutoff value for predicting nutritional risk according to the NRS-2002 was 29.75 cm. In women, the cutoff value was 28.25 cm. CONCLUSION CC is a simple, noninvasive, and valid anthropometric measure to predict nutritional risk for hospitalized patients aged ⪖ 80 years.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anthropometry ; methods ; China ; Female ; Hospitalization ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Leg ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Risk Assessment ; methods