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The goal of this study is to clarify the development of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon (LHBT) and to verify the existence and development of the coracoglenoid ligament. Histological preparations of 22 human embryos (7-8 weeks of development) and 43 human fetuses (9-12 weeks of development) were studied bilaterally using a conventional optical microscope. The articular interzone gives rise to the LHBT, glenoid labrum, and articular capsule. During the fetal period, it was observed that in 50 cases (58%), the LHBT originated from both the glenoid labrum and the scapula, while in 36 cases (42%), it originated only from the glenoid labrum. The coracoglenoid ligament, first described by Sappey in 1867, is a constant structure that originates at the base of the coracoid process and projects toward the glenoid labrum zone, which is related to the origin of the LHBT. The coracoglenoid ligament was more easily identifiable in the 36 cases in which the LHBT originated only from the glenoid labrum. We suggest that the coracoglenoid ligament is a constant anatomical structure, is not derived from the articular interzone unlike the LHBT, and contributes to the fixation of the glenoid labrum in the scapula in cases in which the LHBT originated only from the glenoid labrum. We postulate that, when the LHBT is fixed only at the glenoid labrum, alterations in the coracoglenoid ligament could lead to a less sufficient attachment of the glenoid labrum to the scapula which could predispose to a superior labral lesion., (© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The control of the left hepatic vein (LHV) and the common trunk of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) and LHV (CT) is considered difficult during liver resection and could be improved by detailed knowledge on the ligamentum venosum Arantii (LV)., Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the LV and its connections to the LHV and the CT and to present surgical relevance of the obtained data., Material and Methods: During autopsy of 50 cadavers of both sexes, the LV was exposed, measured and then dissected, simulating a surgical maneuver to facilitate the approach to the LHV and CT. The extrahepatic parts of the LHV, MHV and CT were measured., Results: The LV was 52-70 mm long and 5-8 mm thick. It had a fibrotic structure and was not patent in 96% of the cases. The extrahepatic part of the LHV measured 3-19 mm, that of the MHV 3-18 mm and that of the CT 4-15 mm., Conclusion: LV dissection facilitated extraparenchymatous clamping of the hepatic veins: the extrahepatic parts of the LHV and CT measured > 3 mm in 86 and 84% of the cases, respectively., (2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The authors have studied the anterior ligament of the malleus (ALM) from a morphological and embryological point of view. Classical textbooks of anatomy stress the correlation between the ALM and the anterior pin of the sphenoid and define the ligament as a residual of Meckel's cartilage. This study demonstrates the y-shaped form of the ligament, one arm of which reaches the capsule of the temporomandibular joint and the other the pin of the sphenoid bone. Meckel's cartilage pilots the fibres of the ligament itself. Several clinical implications may be hypothesised on the basis of this study.

The development and structure of the duodenal suspensory ligament and the phrenicocolic ligament were studied in the human fetus, newborn and adult. The observations presented show that the superior retention band is transformed into the suspensory ligament of the duodenum. Within this ligament the muscle of Treitz develops. The inferior retention band atrophies. A new ligament, the phrenicocolic ligament, is formed in the fetal period of life. In this ligament, smooth muscle cells develop. The possible functions of the suspensory ligament of the duodenum and the phrenicocolic ligament are discussed.

Growth in volume of the anulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) was quantified using serial histological sections of human and kitten fetuses. Fetal intervertebral discs were studied that had clearly outlined AF and NP. Regression equations were calculated and graphs plotted by microcomputer. An increase in surface areas of these intervertebral structures was also recorded; however, volume was a better indicator of relative growth than was surface area. The AF volume of the fetal human increased more in proportion to the intervertebral disc than it did for the fetal kittens. There was significantly slower growth of the human NP compared to the kitten NP when related to the total intervertebral disc. The analysis for each species was done separately. Comparisons of the growth relationships of humans and kittens for the AF and NP were related to crown-rump length as the independent variable, and were different at the p less than or equal to 0.01 level of significance. The thoracic intervertebral discs were emphasized due to species-specific differential growth of the AF. The intercapital ligament (IC) was separated from mesenchyme over the dorsal surface of the kitten AF, and this affected the relationships of AF and NP volumes when compared to humans. Use of human histological sections is essential in the study of differential growth of the human vertebral column because fetal kittens have an IC that affects relative growth of both AF and NP.