Indian Journal of Anatomy

Variations in formation of median nerve by more than two roots are relatively uncommon as compared to other variations. During routine dissection for undergraduates, we observed two variations in the formation of median nerve. In one case unilateral variation was observed in 40 year old male cadaver in left axillary region. Here the formation of median nerve was by four roots. Three roots coming from lateral cord joined single root from medial cord leading to median nerve formation. In other case formation was by three roots, two roots from lateral cord and one from medial cord. This variation was present bilaterally. However, in both the cadavers the distribution of the anomalous median nerve was normal in arm, forearm and palm. Presence of such additional roots must be kept in mind during surgery to avoid their injury. It can also explain some unusual clinical symptoms.

Key words: Median nerve; Variations; Lateral cord. 

Normally splenic artery takes origin from the coeliac trunk. Variations in the branches of the coeliac trunk are well established. Here reporting a rare case of coeliac trunk with two main branches hepatic artery and left gastric artery in place of the three classical arteries. In the present study splenic artery arises from the left gastric artery which was a little narrower in its lumen & the spleen was also having a subnormal size. Origin of splenic artery has the clinical significance in laparoscopic surgery as splenectomy also in splenography & operations over pancreas & stomach .Success of surgical operations of the spleen and radiological investigation of related area depends on course of splenic artery. 

Key words: Coeliac trunk; Anomalous origin; Splenic artery; Left gastric artery. 

A study of 91 human hyoid bones consisting of 51 male and 40 female bones obtained from medicolegal postmortems and dissected cadavers from the department of Anatomy was conducted. The hyoid bones were classified according to its shape into 5 different types based on the studies of Papadopoulos et al [1] and Harjeet and Jit[2].The V-type was dominant in males (29.4%)and U-type in females (30%).An attempt was also made to classify the hyoid bone according to its symmetry and isometry. 

Key words: Hyoid bone; Sexual dimorphism; Western Maharashtra. 

Context: Measurements of the orbit are part of the studies in craniometry. Aims: The present study reports 3 parameters of the orbit; height, breadth and orbital index. Settings and Design: Department of Anatomy, International Medical School, Bangalore. Material & Method: The measurements were taken for the right and the left orbital margins of the 51 male and 21 female skulls. Statistical analysis: ‘t’ test. Results: The measurements of the orbit (height/ width/index) (Right: height 3.509 +/- 0.267, width 4.174 +/- 0.215, orbital index 73.55 +/- 12.89) (Left: height 3.37 +/- 0.257, width 4.082=/- 0.198, orbital index 75.273 +/- 11.132), were increased for the male. The right side measurements for the height and width were increased for both the sexes and the right orbital index for the female skulls. Significance was observed for the orbital index between the male and the female skulls for the right and the left orbits and the orbital index of the female skull between its right and left orbits. The application of the demarcation points have identified that the transverse diameters of the left and the right orbits identified 15 to 22 male skulls. Hence, the transverse diameters of the orbit could be considered as a parameter in sex determination of the skulls. Conclusion: The observed differences in the orbital measurements may be because of the sample size and the methodology and also the cardinal features pertaining to the skulls: subjective sex determination, age, racial and geological variations and asymmetry especially in the facial cranium.  

Keywords: Male and female skulls; Orbital measurements; Height; Width; Index.