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Normally, the inferior root of Ansa cervicalis passes around the internal jugular vein and runs in an anterior direction to meet the superior root ventral to the common carotid artery. However, anatomical variants of the Ansa cervicalis are as yet not well investigated and understood. To close this gap the present study was undertaken. The Ansa cervicalis was examined in 54 human formalin-fixed cadavers and preparations of the head and neck by conventional dissection. In 66% of the specimens the Ansa cervicalis displayed the typical course that was classified as “internal type” (located medial to the internal jugular vein inside the carotid sheath). The remaining 34% pertained to the “external type” of the Ansa cervicalis (lateral to the internal jugular vein). The distance of the Ansa cervicalis relative to the superior margin of the thyroid cartilage was measured in every specimen. The external type Ansa cervicalis was located significantly lower than the internal type relative to the superior margin of thyroid cartilage. Regarding its location relative to the internal jugular vein four variants of combinations of the external and internal types of Ansa cervicalis on the right and left sides were distinguished. Based on their distance from the superior margin of the thyroid cartilage three types of Ansa cervicalis were defined.

The study was performed in 120 specimens using preparation. According to the experimental data, from two to six branches originated from coeliac trunk. Division into three branches was the most often variant (in 60.8%). Division into two arteries was revealed in 5.0% cases. Only in one of 120 specimen six branches branching from coeliac trunk were found. In one of the specimen studied combined branching of coeliac trunk with superior mesenterial artery from coeliac aorta was found.

A topographo-anatomical study of parasternal lymph nodes in male and female humans, aged 22--85, carried out. Lymph nodes were identified by preparation method, following interstitial injection of Jerota's blue fluid into mammary tissue, diaphragmatic surface of the liver, pleura, pericardium and diaphragm. The numbers of parasternal lymph nodes were determined for each age bracket of males and females. Parasternal lymph nodes at the level of intercostal spaces and costal cartilages on both sides of the sternum were counted. Relatively more lymph nodes were found at the right-hand side than at the left. There are relatively more parasternal lymph nodes at the level of three upper intercostal spaces on both sides of the sternum; these nodes are larger, too.

The parasternal lymph nodes have been revealed in corpses of person died at the age 22-85 years by the method of preparation after Gerota's blue had been interstitially injected into the tissue of the mammary gland, the diaphragm, the diaphragmal surface of the liver, the pleura and the pericardium. The mass has also been injected into the lymph nodes and vessels revealed by means of the interstitial injection. Most of the parasternal lymph nodes are situated in interposal places, their number varying from 2 to 20 in the parasternal lymphatic chain. At the level of the costal cartilage they are found much more seldom. Maximal number of the parasternal lymph nodes situating behind one costal cartilage is 4. Behind the IV and the V costal cartilage, left to the sternum no lymph nodes have been revealed. The most removed from the sternal edge, the lymph nods in the V and the VI intercostal spaces, both to the left and to the right have been found. As to the position of blood vessels, the lymph nodes occur mostly medially and laterally but not anterior or posterior to them or between them. The size of the lymph nodes varies from 1 to 25 mm.