Indian Journal of Anatomy

Background: Several risk factors raise the chance of heart disease. A sexually dimorphic biometric marker is the ratio of the second and fourth digits. There have been multiple findings of a relationship between 2D:4D and cardiac disease. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the 2d:4d ratio among medical students. Methods: A total of 200 people participated in this cross-sectional study. Medical students had assessments using anthropometric measures, including waist circumference, body weight, hip circumference, height, neck circumference, body fat percentage, and body mass index and the 2d:4d ratio was examined. Results: The study shows significant demographic differences among participants, with gender, height, weight, BMI, and digit lengths all showing statistical significance (p < 0.05). However, correlations between digit lengths and anthropometric measures such as BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, neck circumference, and triceps skin fold thickness were weak and statistically insignificant. Additionally, no significant correlations were found between 2d:4d lengths and family history of health conditions. Conclusion: The study found a correlation between demographic and family history indicating that 2d:4d lengths may not be strongly associated with other physical or hereditary factors.

WhatsApp is a free, cross-platform messaging application widely used by undergraduate students to share multimedia content such as photos, videos, audio clips, and text messages. The present study aimed to assess the perception, attitude, and perceived usefulness of WhatsApp group discussions as a teachinglearning tool in anatomy for first-year medical students. A significant majority (87%) of students found WhatsApp group discussions useful, while 8.7% did not find it beneficial, and 4.3% were uncertain. Students appreciated the ease of access to learning materials, discussion threads, and the continuous availability of peer and faculty support. This flexibility enabled them to revisit and reinforce complex topics such as neuroanatomy and histology at their own pace. Overall, most students considered WhatsApp group discussions to be a valuable supplementary tool that enhanced their anatomy learning outside the classroom. When effectively moderated, it served as an informal yet impactful extension of academic discourse.

Lithium carbonate is considered the gold standard to treat and prevent bipolar disorders, especially in developing countries. The treatment is prolonged, which may be associated with thyroid toxicities of a variable nature. The present minireview is written to explore the current status of knowledge regarding the impact of Lithium treatment on the structure and function of the thyroid gland which will help the clinicians in better management of patients on lithium therapy. PubMed databases and Google Scholar were searched for structural and functional effects of Lithium carbonate therapy on the thyroid gland. The pathophysiology of Lithium carbonate is intricate yet may incorporate increasing intrathyroidal iodine content, repressing the formation and release of thyroid hormones, modifying the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, and Wnt/β-catenin flagging. Goiter is commonly observed in 50% of patients and 25% of patients have hypothyroidism. Patients receiving lithium therapy have less incidence of hyperthyroidism than the general population. Lithium, given over a prolonged period, causes large and mini follicular goiter with hyperplastic epithelium and hyperchromatic nuclei, hyperplasia of stroma with expanded vascularity, sometimes hemorrhages, and finally may lead to thyroiditis, like the picture. Sometimes it may lead to eosinophilic infiltrates into the stroma of the thyroid gland, known as Hurthle cell infiltrate, which is the precursor of thyroid carcinoma. Thus, it is exhorted that those on lithium treatment ought to be periodically assessed for thyroid dysfunction.

Background: Anatomical variations in the formation of the portal vein are frequently encountered during cadaveric dissections and can have profound clinical implications in hepatic surgeries and interventions. Despite being welldocumented in literature, these variants often remain underrecognized in routine surgical practice and medical training. Aim and Objective: To document and analyze a rare anatomical variation in the formation of the portal vein observed during routine cadaveric dissection and raise clinical awareness about variations in portal venous confluence that may affect surgical approaches and outcomes. Material and Methods: A routine dissection was performed on an 84-year-old female cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, AIIMS-Gorakhpur. Observations regarding the formation of the portal vein were documented both diagrammatically and through photographic evidence. Standard anatomical references and literature were consulted to classify and compare the observed variation. Result: The portal vein was found to be formed by the convergence of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), splenic vein (SV), and notably, the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) contributing directly at the confluence—an uncommon variant aligning with Type II of Thomson’s classification. Conclusion: This case highlights a clinically relevant variation in portal vein formation with potential implications for hepatic surgeries, liver transplantations, and interventional radiology. Early recognition through imaging or dissection is critical for effective surgical planning and minimizing complications.

The global birth prevalence of congenital malformations is about 2-3%. Congenital heart defects are the most common followed by the limb anomalies. Congenital limb deficiencies have many causes and often occur as a component of various congenital syndromes. During routine examination of a foetus of 18 weeks gestation obtained for foetal repository in the department of anatomy, some atypical limb anomalies were noted on gross examination which were further evaluated by detailed dissection. This case was identified to be a case of unilateral fibular hemimelia with tibial bone spur and oligodactyly in the same limb. The knowledge of such atypical anomalies is of tremendous clinical relevance for radiologists, obstreticians, paediatricians, paediatric surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons who need to be aware about the presence of such defects at this gestational age for its timely detection, appropriate counselling of parents and timely intervention for surgical planning.