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The origins and distribution of arteries of the celiac-mesenteric system were examined by dissection of 52 formalin-fixed human cadavers. Seventy-five percent of the cadavers exhibited the classic Michels' Type I hepatolienogastric pattern; 25% had different branching patterns. Multiple anomalies of the celiac-mesenteric arterial system were observed in one Caucasian female cadaver: a short lienogastric trunk; a common hepatic artery arising directly from the abdominal aorta; an anomalous course of the hepatic arteries; an accessory left hepatic artery arising from the left and right gastric arterial anastomosis along the lesser curvature of the stomach; a double cystic artery; a common inferior phrenic trunk arising from the celiac trunk; and an aberrant arterial channel connecting the proximal segments of the splenic and gastroduodenal arteries. A patent ductus venosus and an anomalous formation of the portal vein by the confluence of the splenic and superior and inferior mesenteric veins was also observed. Although single anomalies of the celiac-mesenteric arterial system are common, complex combinations, such as were observed in the present case, represent a significant deviation from the normal developmental pattern. There seems to be no report in the literature of such a combination of anomalies coexisting in one individual. The developmental and clinical significance of these anomalous vessels is discussed., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Objective: To study the prevalence of sternalis muscle in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and resolve the question of its genesis by studying the innervation of this uncommon variant of anterior chest wall musculature., Methods: A morphological study of 75 adult cadavers of both sexes was carried out over a 5-year period by macroscopic dissection. We also retrospectively studied the medical records of 1580 adult females who had undergone screening and diagnostic mammographic imaging at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, KSA, from 1997 to 2001., Results: Out of 75 cadavers studied, 3 cases of sternalis muscle were observed. Two adult male cadavers had well developed bilateral sternalis muscles whereas one female cadaver exhibited right sided unilateral sternalis. All 5 sternalis muscles were positioned vertically, in a parasternal position superficial to the medial part of pectoralis major and innervated by branches of intercostal nerves. None of the 1580 women, however, who had undergone mammographic imaging were found to be sternalis positive., Conclusion: Consistent with other geographic populations of the world, the frequency of sternalis in KSA is approximately 4%; however, its innervation by the intercostal nerves, as observed in our study is not common. This study highlights the need for familiarity with sternalis, which may mimic a focal density in medial breast craniocaudal mammograms and may be encountered during reconstructive surgery of breast and chest wall.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to report on the subclavian axillary arterial system variations observed in the dissecting room. METHODS: The morphological study of 106 formalin fixed upper limbs of adult human cadavers of both sexes was carried out at human anatomy laboratory of College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over a 5 year period, to observe the distribution pattern of the subclavian axillary arterial system. RESULTS: The arterial variations in the upper extremities are quite common and may occur at the level of the thoracic outlet, axilla, arm, cubital fossa and the hand. In the present study, the anomalous topographic pattern of the subclavian axillary arterial system was revealed in 7.5% of the cadavers, whereas 92.5% exhibited classical pattern of the regional arterial anatomy. The study showed: 1. An aberrant right subclavian artery arising from the arch of aorta, distal to the left subclavian artery. 2. A bilateral common subscapular-circumflex humeral trunk (3.8%) emerging from the 3rd part of the axillary artery (branching into the circumflex humeral and thoracodorsal arteries. 3. A bilateral thoracohumeral trunk arising from the 2nd part of the axillary artery (1.9%) and branching into the lateral thoracic, circumflex humeral, subscapular and thoracodorsal arteries. These anomalies were accompanied by anomalous insertion of flexor digitorum superficialis muscle, a bilateral digastric muscle formed by the abductor pollicis longus and brevis, and an anomalous formation of median nerve by 3 roots. CONCLUSION: The aberrant right subclavian artery associated with right non-recurrent laryngeal nerve and variant branching pattern of the axillary artery are of interest to anatomists, surgeons and radiologists and suggested that these anomalies must be evaluated pre-operatively.