Ashwija Shetty

Purpose The septal pouch is an anatomical variant resulting from incomplete fusion between the septum primum and the septum secundum at the interatrial septum. This partial fusion creates a conical pouch, which is potentially predisposed to thrombus formation, increasing the degree of thromboembolic risk. This cadaveric study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, morphology, and morphometry of septal pouches and their associations with other septal defects. Methodology The interatrial septa of 60 human hearts were examined for septal pouches. Characteristics such as pouch type, apex and base orientation, base width, depth, and morphological variants were documented. Results Atrial septal pouches (ASPs) were identified in 22/60 (37%) specimens. Right atrial septal pouches (RSPs) were predominant (30%), whereas left atrial septal pouches (LSPs) were found in 7% of the patients. Most RSPs exhibited a thin, membranous, flattened morphology, although some were thick and muscular. All LSPs were thin and flattened, with a superiorly directed ostium and an inferiorly directed apex. Histologically, the pouches demonstrated a trilaminar arrangement, comprising the myocardium sandwiched between two endocardial layers, with collagen-rich connective tissue beneath. Conclusion This study highlights important anatomical insights regarding septal pouches, emphasizing the higher prevalence and varied morphometry of RSPs. Given their potential clinical significance in thromboembolic phenomena, further investigation into septal pouch involvement in cardiovascular diseases is warranted.

The human cornea is a transparent avascular structure that is crucial for transmitting light to the retina. The innermost layer of the cornea is the corneal endothelium, which is located distal to Descemet’s membrane, that connects it to the corneal stroma and is responsible for maintaining corneal clarity via barrier and pump functions. Loss of endothelial transparency significantly impairs vision, and the conditions responsible for disrupting transparency include endothelial dysfunction. This review focuses on the treatment of corneal endothelial pathophysiology. The shape of CECs is maintained by the actin filaments, which are located apically as a thick band. Cadherin forms the junctional complex at the apical cell junctions, which further extends up to the basolateral borders of the cells. The ability of the cornea to transmit light depends on the deturgescence of the connective tissue stroma, which is regulated by an active fluid transport system connected to the corneal endothelium. The disruption of the ability of CECs to regulate visual clarity and corneal hydration either indirectly affects the contraction of actomyosin or directly threatens the integrity of barrier function because cell loss leads to corneal edema, epispodic ocular pain, blurred vision or blistering of the corneal endothelium. Once damaged, the corneal endothelium does not regenerate in humans. With the advancement of modern surgical techniques, endothelial corneal dystrophies have become treatable. While pharmacological treatments and emerging therapies are important, surgical approaches remain the cornerstone of treatment. Research into gene therapy, stem cells, and tissue engineering may further transform the management of endothelial corneal dystrophies in the future.

Nandini Prashanth Bhat, Suhani Sumalatha, Ashwija Shetty, Sushma Prabhath. Anat Cell Biol -0001;0:. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.23.043

Sumalatha S, et al. Anat Cell Biol. 2019 Aug;52:e7. https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.006

Background The major arterial supply to the thyroid gland is from the superior and inferior thyroid arteries, arising from the external carotid artery and the thyrocervical trunk respectively. The external laryngeal nerve runs in close proximity to the origin of the superior thyroid artery in relation to the thyroid gland. The superior thyroid artery is clinically important in head and neck surgeries. Objectives To locate the origin of the superior thyroid artery, because wide variability is reported. To provide knowledge of possible variations in its origin, because it is important for surgical procedures in the neck. Methods The origin of the superior thyroid artery was studied by dissecting sixty adult human hemineck specimens from donated cadavers in a Department of Anatomy. Results The highest incidence observed was origin of the superior thyroid artery from the external carotid artery (88.33%), whereas origin from the common carotid bifurcation only occurred in 8.33%. However, in 3.33% of cases, the superior thyroid artery originated from the common carotid artery and in a single case, the external laryngeal nerve did not cross the stem of the superior thyroid artery at all, but ran ventral and parallel to the artery. Conclusions It is important to rule out anomalous origin of superior thyroid artery and verify its relationship to the external laryngeal nerve prior to ligation of the artery in thyroid surgeries, in order to prevent iatrogenic injuries. Moreover, because anomalous origins of the superior thyroid artery are only anatomic variants, thorough knowledge of these is decisive for head and neck surgeries.