PURPOSE: To identify the anatomy of the levator aponeurosis (LA) and Whitnall's ligament (WL) in Korean subjects using cadavers. METHODS: Orbital exenteration was performed in ten cadavers (20 eyeballs) that had no history of trauma near the eyeball. We observed characteristics of WL (tension, density, and shape) and the relationship between the superior rectus muscle (SR) and the levator palpebrae superioris. We measured the distance from both the eyelid margin and the upper border of the tarsal plate to the insertion of the LA medially, centrally, and laterally. RESULTS: The WLs we observed showed several shapes. In 12 eyes, we saw clear, white fibrotic bands, while in four others, we found thin, less taut bands. In four eyes, we were unable to identify the precise shape of the band. The insertions of the LA showed nasal dehiscence in 13 eyes and parallel attachment in seven eyes. The distances from the eyelid margin to the insertion of the LA medially, centrally, and laterally were 8.31 mm, 5.57 mm, and 5.15 mm, respectively. The distances from the upper border of the tarsal plate to the insertion of the LA medially, centrally, and laterally were 2.75 mm, 4.82 mm, and 4.29 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study examined the anatomy of WL and the LA in Korean subjects and may be helpful as a reference in levator muscle surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadaver ; Eyelids/*anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Ligaments/*anatomy & histology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal/anatomy & histology ; Oculomotor Muscles/anatomy & histology ; Tendons/*anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVE: To observe and verify the key anatomies of DeLancey's three levels of vaginal support theory through laparoscopic surgery by space dissection technique. METHODS: The features and stress performance of related anatomies were observed and analyzed in laparoscopic type C hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical cancer by natural space exposures. RESULTS: The main ligament-like structure at level Ⅰ was the uterosacral ligament, which acted as the main apical fixation in the sacral direction, while the cardinal ligament was mainly composed of vascular system, lymph-vessels and loose connective tissue around them, lacking the tough connective tissue structures, which was connected to the internal iliac vascular system. There were no strong ligaments connected to the tendinous arch of pelvic fascia (ATFP) at the lateral side of vaginal wall at level Ⅱ. ATFP was the edge of the superior fascia of pelvic diaphragm, which was bounded by the fascia of the obturator. Its surface was smooth and close to the levator ani muscle and fuses with the vaginal fascia in about one thirds of middle lower segments of the vagina. When the ureter tunnel is separated, dense connective structures can be found in both anterior and posterior walls near the intersection of the ureter across uterine artery, fixing the bilateral angle of the bladder triangle, starting from the cervix and vagina and ending in the tunica muscularis vesicae urinariae. CONCLUSIONS Based on the laparoscopic anatomy, the pelvic floor fascia ligament support above the levator ani muscle can be considered mainly around the vagina, and fascial ligament above the levator ani muscle can be simply considered as two parallel planes forming a "double hammock" structure, which may provide more anatomic data for pelvic floor reconstruction.
Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ligaments ; anatomy & histology ; Pelvic Floor ; Urinary Bladder ; Vagina ; anatomy & histology ; surgery

As total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer is widely carried out in China, lateral ligament of rectum, as an important anatomical structure of the lateral rectum with certain anatomical value and clinical significance, has been the focus of attention. In this paper, by comparing and analyzing the characteristics about ligaments of the abdomen and pelvis, reviewing the membrane anatomy and the theory of primitive gut rotation, and combining clinical observations and histological studies, the author came to a conclusion that lateral ligament of rectum does not exist, but is only a relatively dense space on the rectal side accompanied by numerous tiny nerve plexuses and small blood vessels penetrating through it.
Humans ; Rectum/anatomy & histology* ; Pelvis/anatomy & histology* ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Peritoneum ; Collateral Ligaments ; Cognition

OBJECTIVETo discuss the midface aging mechanism through anatomic study of malar fat pad.

METHODS10 fresh adult cadaveric heads (20 sides) fixed by vascular perfusion of formalin were used for anatomic study with microsurgery technique under microscope. The midfacial ligament and connective tissue between skin and subcutaneous fat were observed carefully in different parts of midface. The location, shape and extent of malar fat pad was also recorded and photographed.

RESULTSThe malar fat pad has a triangle shape. The bottom is a curve along the orbicularis retaining ligament at the lower eyelid. The fat pad is extended internally to the nasolabial fold and labiomandibular fold, externally from the major zygomatic muscle end point at the malar surface to the angulus oris and submandibular edge. (2) The malar fat pad is composed of meshed fibrous tissue, with big fat particles in it. It becomes tight when being stretched in horizontal direction along nasolabial fold and loosen when being stretched in vertical direction. (3) There is tight connection between skin and fat pad, which is divided into four areas as I, II, III, IV. The areas I, II, III are strip-shaped parelled to the nasolabial fold. The area IV is a irregular quadrilateral. (4) There are six fixation ligaments between malar fat pad and deep tissue: orbicularis retaining ligament upper layer of lower eyelid, orbicularis retaining ligament substratum of lower eyelid, zygomaticus ligament, zygomatic cutaneous ligament, zygomatic cutaneous ligament substratum, platysma There are four closely connected areas cutaneous forward ligament, cheek maxilla ligament.

CONCLUSIONSbetween the facial skin and malar fat pad which makes malar fat pad and skin keep relatively consistent. The malar fat pad moving down mainly resulted from slack of ligaments support which is one of the reasons for aging face.

Adipose Tissue ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Cadaver ; Cheek ; Eyelids ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Face ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Facial Muscles ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Head ; Humans ; Ligaments ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Lip ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; Skin Aging ; pathology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the origins and insertions of Pitanguy ligament,in order to find the anatomically theoretical basis for the treatment of nasal deformity such as drooping nose, short columella, gingival show.

METHODS15 cadaveric heads fixed by 10% formalin were used. 12 specimens underwent nasal anatomic study. The skin was incised, along the nasal midline to expose the Pitanguy ligament. The origin of Pitanguy ligament and its relationship with surrounding tissue were studied. Then the Pitanguy ligament was taken out for HE staining. Longitudinal section along the ligament was observed. 3 specimens underwent harvesting of full-thickness nasal tissue from skin to periosteal membrane. Then the samples were used for HE staining to show histologic study of ligament at horizontal section.

RESULTSPitanguy ligament originates in the midline of lower third of the nasal superficial musculoaponeurotic system, extends down to the tip along the midline of the nasal dorsum and then turns backwards at the nasal tip, and runs between the medial crura of the lower lateral cartilages, inserts into the base of columella. Its muscle is connected with the orbicularis oris muscle and the depressor septi nasi muscle. HE staining showed the ligament consists of fibrous connective tissue, muscle tissue and other ingredients, but without cartilage.

CONCLUSIONSPitanguy ligament exists with complex histological composition, so its name is still controversial. Because it has multiple connection with the orbicularis oris muscle and the depressor septi nasi muscle, so cutting or shortened the Pitanguy ligament can treat deformity of nose and lip by adjustment of nasolabial angles and the nasal length.

Cadaver ; Cartilage ; anatomy & histology ; Facial Muscles ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Ligaments ; anatomy & histology ; Lip ; anatomy & histology ; Nasal Septum ; anatomy & histology ; Nose ; anatomy & histology ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; pathology ; surgery ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; anatomy & histology

INTRODUCTIONKnowledge of morphological variations of the suprascapular region is important in the management of entrapment neuropathy and interventional procedures. The objective of this study was to collect data on the morphological features and dimensions of ossified ligaments and unusual bony tunnels of scapulae from a North Indian population.

METHODSA total of 268 adult human scapulae of unknown gender were obtained from the bone bank of the Department of Anatomy, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. The scapulae were evaluated for the incidence of ossified superior transverse scapular ligaments (STSLs), ossified inferior transverse scapular ligaments (ITSLs) and bony tunnels (i.e. the bony canal between the suprascapular notch and spinoglenoid notch), found along the course of the suprascapular nerve (SSN). The dimensions of these structures were measured and noted down. Ossified STSLs were classified based on their shape (i.e. fan- or band-shaped) and the dimensions of the ossified suprascapular openings (SSOs) were measured.

RESULTSOssified STSLs were present in 26 (9.7%) scapulae. Among the 26 scapulae, 16 (61.5%) were fan-shaped (mean area of SSO 16.6 mm(2)) and 10 (38.5%) were band-shaped (mean area of SSO 34.2 mm(2)). Bony tunnels were observed in 2 (0.75%) specimens, while an ossified ITSL was observed in 1 (0.37%) specimen.

CONCLUSIONThe data obtained in the present study augments the reference literature for SSN decompression and the existing anatomical databases, especially those on Indian populations. This data is useful to clinicians, radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Adult ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Ligaments, Articular ; anatomy & histology ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Scapula ; anatomy & histology

Ligaments are the main parts which stabilize the knee joint. How to analog the ligaments in biomechanical model will affect the characteristics of the human knee dynamics and in the computation of the stress in ligaments between two bones. This symposium is aimed at the survey of the simplified method of the ligaments via mechanical parameters, and providing an exact method of constructing model.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Ligaments, Articular ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Models, Anatomic ; Models, Biological

The aim of this review is to familiarize the reader with the critical lower eyelid anatomy as is related to lower blepharoplasty or a midface lift. The contents include 1) the lacrimal canaliculus in the lower eyelid: the depth and width (diameter) of the vertical portion were 2.58+/-0.24 mm and 0.44+/-0.07 mm, respectively. A vertical portion of the canaliculus was about 1 mm (1.11+/-0.16 mm) deep, and the horizontal portion was about 2~3 mm (2.08+/-2.74 mm) long 2 mm below the mucocutaneous junction, which is where an incision may be made when performing epicanthoplasty. 2) Motor innervation to the lower orbiculis oculi muscle: the pretarsal and preseptal OOMs were innervated by five to seven terminal twigs of the zygomatic branches of the facial nerve that approached the muscle at a right angle. The mean horizontal distance between the lateral canthus and the zygomatic branch was 2.31+/-0.29 cm (range: 1.7~2.7 cm) and the vertical distance was 1.20+/-0.20 cm (range: 0.8~1.5 cm). 3) Sensory innervation of the lower eyelid skin: the majority of the terminal branches (93.8%) of the ION were distributed to the medial to the lateral canthus. Most (99.4%) of the terminal branches of the ZFN were distributed to lateral to the lateral canthus. 4) Retractor of the lower eyelid; capsulopalpebral fascia (CPF): the orbital septum blended with the CPF most closely at 3.7~5.4 mm beneath the lower tarsal border and differently at 3.7+/-0.7 mm on the medial limbus line, 4.3+/-0.8 mm on the midpupillary line and 5.4+/-1.0 mm on the lateral limbus line. 5) Arcuate expansion (AE): The AE was a fibrous band expanding from the inferolateral orbital rim to the medial canthal ligament. A sector (fan-shaped) of the AE originated in the angle of 5 to 80 degrees at the circumference of the inferolateral orbital rim circle, falling within the range of 3 to 5.5 o'clock, and then it tapered and attached to the inferior border of the medial canthal ligament. 6) Suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) in the lower eyelid: the SOOF was located in the inferolateral side of the orbit within a range between medial +15 and lateral -89 degrees to a vertical midpupillary line. Histologically, the SOOF was situated deep to the Orbicularis oculi muscle and superficial to the orbital septum and periosteum. The SOOF consisted more of fibrofatty tissue rather than being the pure fatty nature like orbital fat. I hope surgeons can achieve desirable outcomes with the knowledge reviewed in this article.
Anatomy, Regional ; Blepharoplasty ; Eyelids ; Facial Nerve ; Fascia ; Ligaments ; Muscles ; Orbit ; Periosteum

OBJECTIVE: To explore the imaging characteristics of the transverse ligament in healthy adolescents, and further understand the imaging characteristics of the ligament injury. METHODS: We used 3.0T-MR to scan the transverse ligament with proton-weighted sequence in 32 young volunteers, scanned coronally, horizontally and sagittally, and then observed the morphology, thickness, running and signal characteristics of the ligament. RESULTS: The anatomy and signal characteristics of the transverse cervical ligament were clearly displayed by high resolution proton density weighted imaging (PDWI). The whole picture of the transverse ligament was effectively displayed by coronal combined with horizontal image. The transverse ligament was located in the rear of the odontoid, and connected to the inside of both sides of the block like half-arc. The length was (20.4±3.3) mm, the ligament center was the thickest, and both sides gradually became thinner. The middle width of the ligament was (7.3±0.6) mm, the ligament ends narrowed down, and the middle was (2.1±0.4) mm thick; 75% of the transverse ligament showed homogeneous low signal in PDWI, while 25% of the local transverse ligament had high signal. CONCLUSION High resolution PDWI with 3.0T-MR is a effective method to evaluate the structure of the transverse cervical ligament. Local high signal may not necessarily be the sign of ligament injure. There may also be some high signal in the normal adolescent ligament, so we must pay much attention to clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Adolescent ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Ligaments ; anatomy & histology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Protons

OBJECTIVETo investigate the in vivo and three-dimensional (3D) length changes of the glenohumeral ligaments during shoulder abduction using open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODSFrom 2007 to 2008 3D attachment points of the glenohumeral ligaments were obtained by anatomical study and computed tomographic scanning of 10 embalmed cadaveric shoulders, including the superior glenohumeral ligament (SGHL), middle glenohumeral ligament (MGHL), the anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (AIGHL), axillary pouch and the posterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (PIGHL). Then an in vivo study was conducted, in which 14 right shoulder joints of 14 healthy volunteers were evaluated in 7 isometric abduction positions (0 degrees , 30 degrees , 60 degrees , 90 degrees , 120 degrees , 150 degrees and 180 degrees ) using a noninvasive 3D motion-analysis system. 3D models of the shoulders and located the attachment points of the ligaments were created. Ligament lengths were based on the shortest calculated paths between each origin and insertion in 3D space along the 3D bone surface for each abduction position.

RESULTSDuring shoulder abduction, the 3D distance of SGHL was found to elongated and attained maximal length at 30 degrees abduction (P = 0.2). MGHL and AIGHL attained maximal length at 60 degrees (P < 0.05) and 120 degrees (P < 0.05) abduction, respectively. Pouch and PIGHL reached the maximal length at 180 degrees abduction (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe SGHL limits inferior translation of the humeral head at 30 degrees of abduction. MGHL maintains maximum anterior stability at 60 degrees of abduction. AIGHL prevents anterior dislocation of the humeral head at 120 degrees of abduction. In 180 degrees abduction, pouch provided anterior stability and PIGHL has the contribution to the inferior stability.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Ligaments, Articular ; anatomy & histology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Anatomic ; Shoulder Joint ; anatomy & histology