Structural Anatomy
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/30455
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Browsing Structural Anatomy by Author "Dickerson, Austin"
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Item Anatomic relationships in a set of thoracopagus twins(2021) Dickerson, Austin; Fisher, CaraBackground: Conjoined twins occur from aberrant embryogenesis, at an estimated incidence of 1 in 200,000 births, with many being stillborn. There are many subtypes of conjoined twins, with their classifications based on anatomical relationships between the two individuals. Similarly, twin survival to birth and potential for surgical separation are based largely on anatomy, especially organ sharing. In the field of pediatric surgery, advances have been made in the understanding of this unique condition and the factors that affect twin survival. This case details the specific anatomy of a set of conjoined female twins. Case Information: Detailed dissection of female conjoined twins reveals unique anatomic relationships and organ sharing between the two. The twins are thoracopagus, or joined at the thorax. Each twin has a separate head and a separate pair of upper and lower extremities. There are distinct, separate abdomens and pelves. The twins share a heart, diaphragm, and liver. Each has separate sets of lungs, and separate foregut, midgut, and hindgut structures. Conclusions: Medical and surgical management of conjoined twins depends largely on the highly variable anatomy and the resulting impacts on physiology. This case report details a set of thoracopagus twins and their unique anatomy. The twins share a heart, which occurs in nearly all thoracopagus twins, and is rarely compatible with life. While the medical history of the twins described here is unknown, a detailed dissection of this well-preserved specimen and exploration of anatomic relationships adds to the current literature and understanding of this unique condition.Item Variation of prevertebral musculature in cadaveric studies(2021) Dickerson, Austin; Fisher, CaraBackground: This case report documents muscular variation observed in a detailed dissection of the prevertebral region of multiple cadavers. The prevertebral region contains the muscles lying between the prevertebral layer of cervical fascia and the vertebral column. The deep location of these muscles means that they are often understudied during routine dissections. The prevertebral muscles lie in close proximity to numerous important neurologic and vascular structures, including the contents of the carotid sheath and the jugular foramen. The rectus capitis lateralis muscle, in particular, is used as a landmark in the microsurgical anatomy in certain extracranial approaches to the jugular foramen. The anatomical variations described in this report have little previous documentation in the literature, and their characterization here adds to the current understanding of variation in the region and its impact on surgical anatomy. Case Information: Detailed dissection of the prevertebral region of multiple embalmed cadavers revealed differing variations in the muscular anatomy. One such variation involved accessory muscles running in superolateral fashion over the anterior portion of the transverse processes of the atlas bilaterally. Conclusions: The muscular variation detailed in this report has implications in surgical approaches to surrounding structures, including the jugular foramen and its contents. Various approaches rely on specific landmarks, which have the possibility to be mistaken or obscured by anatomic variation in the region. Continued study and reporting of variation discovered in the prevertebral region can help characterize common deviations from normal anatomy and aid in surgical planning.