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A cephalometric investigation of the lateral plate of the pterygoïd process was conducted in the sagittal, frontal and axial plane. The aim of this study was to make linears observations on the pterygoïd process. A biostatistical method helped comparing the variations of the lateral pterygoïd plate in relation to the variations of the basi-cranium and the face with special interest given to the mandible, because of its tight muscular connection to the pterygoïd process.

The vascular networks of the periphery of the nail of the finger are studied on fingers of adults, fetus and newborns, by injecting the vascular system with gelatinous Indian ink. The nail is an avascular horny structure, partially covered with the nail fold. It is lying on a nail bed which prolonges forwards with the hyponychium. Each part of the nail apparatus (nail fold, matricial and unmatricial parts of the nail bed, hyponychium) presents a characteristic network which is tributary of dorsal collaterals arising from the digital palmar vessels and from their arcades. These networks are papillar, pseudopapillar, reticular and subdermical. The morphology and density of these networks vary according to their localisation and are superimposed with the histological variations of the different parts of the nail apparatus. Thus the matricial part of the nail bed shows a poor vascularization. It corresponds to the germinative part of the nail and is responsible of the color of the lunula. The unmatricial part of the nail bed and the hyponychium have dense vascular networks with glomi.

The relationships of the external pterygoid plate with the other components of the craniofacial building has hardly been explored because of recording difficulties. A method to accurately identify in a reproducible way the main axis of the pterygoid process with the help of two small iron balls was contrasted with other methods seen in the literature. The iron balls technique was shown to be the method of choice with regard to biostatistical consistency.

The vascular pedicles of Bichat's fat pad are numerous. The most important artery is the buccal artery, branch of the maxillary artery, which supplies the principal part and the six extensions of the buccal fat pad. Not only many other branches of the maxillary artery, but also branches of the facial artery and of the superficial temporal artery send thin vessels to cross the capsule and supply Bichat's fat pad, body and extensions, from periphery to center. The microcirculation of Bichat's fat pad shows a network almost similar with those of the other zones of white adipose tissue, but the capillary meshes are smaller and more tightened, the capillaries have a bigger diameter and several "basket-like" structures are to be find beneath the capsule.

A study of 200 human thoracic anterior walls (150 of adults and 50 of children) allows to distinguish 3 types of articulations at the internal extremity of the 7th costal cartilage: a lateral sterno-costal articulation, a prexiphoïdian sterno-costal articulation and an articulation between the two 7th costal cartilages. Each type may or may not have an articulating space. The only diarthrodial articulating spaces are found at the level of the articulation between the two 7th costal cartilages. All the other articulations may be considered as symphyses which, with age, may present a non-synovial space. The different types of articulations vary with age, the 7th cartilages being closer together in the child than in the adult. In the child there is a characteristic vascular network between the sternum and the 7th costal cartilages.

Topographic anatomy of the different parts of the corpus adiposum buccae is analyzed by coronal, transverse and sagittal sections. These sections are compared with those realized in the same planes by tomodensitometry and magnetic resonance. This comparison allows a better knowledge of the structures shown by imaging in the superficial and deep facial regions.

The chondro-sternal, interchondral, costo-chondral joints and the upper and lower sternal joints were studied in the thorax of 60 children and human adults. Chondro-sternal joints occur as frequent symphyses in the 5th, 6th and 7th joints or ellipsoid joints which are mainly found in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th joints. Diarthrosis frequency increases with age in every joint. An articular space appears particularly in the lower part of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th joints; in fewer cases a space is found in the upper part of the 5th, 6th and 7th joints. These partial spaces disappear with age and are replaced by spaces occupying the whole articulation. The first joint is a synchondrosis which does not vary with age. Interchondral joints are diarthrodial or trochoid joints from earliest childhood and their frequency increases with age. No direct articular contact was observed between the 9th and 10th costal cartilages. Costo-chondral joints are synarthrosis. The upper sternal joint, which is a synchondrosis in the child, may develop into a non-synovial cavity with age, or even turn into synostosis. The lower sternal joint is a synchondrosis which develops partially towards synostosis.

The corpus adiposum trigoni lumbalis is an adipose mass which is separated from the hypodermic fat pad by the fascia superficialis and placed on the trigonum lumbale and higher part of gluteal region. It gives some extension toward the flanks, the middle line of the body, the lower put of the gluteal region and is also very close to the subperitoneal fat pad. It's vascularization depends in greater part of it's own vessels, but also on vessels that irrigate the integument.

The study of young children's retrosternal lobular formations allowed us to distinguish different structures: lymph nodes, adipose lobules, and variable lymphoid formations. The arteries of the lymph nodes are either medullar, cortical or perforating, and the venous net is characterized by existence of perifollicular cortical corbels. The adipose lobules are often made of a mingling of white fat tissue and foetal fat tissue, and in the zones of foetal fat the vascular network is the most developed. The lymphoid formations are of variable structure and microcirculation. Some of them are represented by foetal fat lobules with scattered lymphoid cells, their microvascularization is comparable to microcirculation of fat tissue. Others, are characterized by few lymphoid cells and by development of the connective and reticular tissue; there, the anastomotic venous network is very dilated. Some formations are like lymph nodes, but their sinusal spaces are full of erythrocytes and their microcirculation is peculiar.

The vascularization of 110 Human sternoclavicular articulations is studied after injection of China ink with gelosa. The arteries of the sternoclavicular articulation arise from the internal mammary arteria and form a periarticular arch from which start the peripheric, sub-synovial and central networks. These networks, whose architectony is in relation with the functional structure of sternoclavicular articulation, drains in peripheric venous arches which join anterior jugular and mediastinal veins.

The microvascularization of the sternum of the child has been studied by a method of India ink injection and by histology. Extra-osseous vasculature includes vascular pedicles and sternal vascular networks. Vascular anterior and posterior pedicles issue from internal mammary vessels. Sternal anterior and posterior networks are disposed on the faces of the sternum and are divided in a superficial one and a deep one; both are included in the perichondrium. In newborns and in young infants, vascular structures looking like baskets are affixed to the deep sternal network. It is unlikely that they intervene in the constitution of the adult pattern of the sternal vasculature. The early complete development of sternal networks contrasts with the existence of evolutive characteristics of the intra-osseous vasculature. Intra-osseous vasculature includes the cartilage canal vessels and the vessels of the ossification centers. Cartilage canals are provided with an axial artery, issued from the deep sternal network, which produces short capillaries which continue in peripheral sinuses. Cartilage canals permit the penetration of perichondral tissue deep in the cartilage of the developing sternum, allowing the formation of the ossification center. The ossification center is vascularized by centrifugal arteries, issued from the cartilage canal artery, and disposed in a radiant pattern. They continue, through a conical progressive dilatation, into a sinusoid network, which presents a convergent disposition towards the center of the ossification point. Vascular events precede ossification. Hematopoietic development is consecutive to the vascular events too. The slenderness of vascular pedicles contrasts in neonates with the wide development of the sinusoid network. Adipose tissue is rare in the bone marrow sternum of the child. Secondary evolution of the ossification center vasculature permits its connections with the deep sternal vascular network, with adjacent cartilage canals, and with adjacent ossification centers. Progressively, the number and the importance of the peripheral pedicles of the ossification centers increase. Thus, a multiple and centripetal vascular provision takes the place of the initial, unique, centrifugal one. These modifications correspond to the transition from the vascular pattern of an expanding structure (the ossification center) to the one which is adapted to the full expression of its hematopoietic function.

The study of young children's retrosternal lobular formations allowed us to distinguish different structures: lymph nodes, adipose lobules, and variable lymphoid formations. The arteries of the lymph nodes are either medullar, cortical or perforating, and the venous net is characterized by existence of perifollicular cortical corbels. The adipose lobules are often made of a mingling of white fat tissue and fetal fat tissue, and in the zones of foetal fat the vascular network is the most developed. The lymphoid formation are of variable structure and microcirculation. Some of them are represented by foetal fat lobules with scattered lymphoid cells, their microvascularization is comparable to microcirculation of fat tissue. Others, are characterized by few lymphoid cells and by development of the connective and reticular tissue; there, the anastomotic venous network is very dilated. Some formations are like lymph nodes, but their sinusal spaces are full of erythrocytes and their microcirculation is peculiar.

The curettage of a section of bone marrow in rabbit femur entails the destruction of the corresponding vascularization. Starting on the first day the undistroyed interadipocytic network is widely open. It is fed: 1. via those branches of the nutrient artery that stay connected; 2. via branches of the nutrient artery that become disconnected and then form anastomosis with the epiphysial arteries or compact bone arteries and thus become revascularized; 3. via the arteries vascularizing compact bone. By the thirds of fourth day after intervention, both poles of the hematoma are lined by vascular caps. This is composed of a rich network neo-vessels showing three distinct levels. After four or five weeks these networks will have come together and anastomosed. Between the hematoma and the compact bone tissue large vascular lacunae are formed. They receive blood from the arteries of the compact bone. The vascular networks drain into the veins of diaphyseal compact bone or are drained via intact vestiges of the central venous sinus. In those areas where the hematoma is reabsorbed, a partially reconstructed vascular tree appears. Peripheral longitudinal arteries send out centripetal rami towards the central vascular buds as well as centrifugal rami towards subcortical vascular buds. The interdipocytic network also regains its normal morphology. The central venous sinus extends from one epiphysis to the other and is usually drained into the veins of the trochanteric fossa proximally and into the popliteal veins and supra-trochlear veins distally.

The study of the vascularization of the sternum allows to individualise the vascular pedicles, the anterior and posterior peripheral sternal networks and the intrasternal vascularization. 1. The numerous vascular pedicles of the sternum all come from the internal mammary arteries. The postero-superior and postero-inferior sternal arteries of one simple intercostal space or of contiguous spaces are anastomosed by systems of latero-sternal, retroarticular and retro-sternal arches. From these arches come vessels which go directly to the sternum or which form the posterior peripheral sternal network. The anterior sternal branches of perforating arteries form arches or go directly to the anterior peripheral sternal network or to the sternum. The veins are less anastomosed than the arteries and therefore their arches are less distinct. 2. The anterior and posterior peripheral sternal networks are especially developed with respect to the lower half of the body of the sternum at the level of the 4th and 5th intercostal spaces. The posterior network is more developed than the anterior network. The arteries often have a spiral course, their anastomoses occur with their contralateral and homolateral homologues. The veins, which are of larger calibre than the arteries, design a denser and more irregular network. 3. The intra-skeletal vascularization, tributary of the peripheral networks, arches and branches of the internal mammary vessels, includes a network of the compact bone and a medullary network. The network of the compact bone, situated in one plane, is composed of polyhedral elongated meshes, according to the large axe of the sternum. The medullary network may be divided into a sub-cortical and a centro-medullary part. The sub-cortical part is composed of a peripheral zone and a more central zone. The totality of the intramedullary network includes a few fine arteries, an interadipocytary network, which is very developed and is variable in form. It also include sinuses of increasing order connected into the venous system, into the network of the compact bone, or into the large trans-cortical veins, which are drained by the peripheral sternal networks or by the collateral veins or the internal mammary system.