Although toothed whales have dentition peculiar to mammals, little attention has been paid to the periodontal tissues that support these characteristic teeth. In this study, we clarified the anatomical characteristics of the periodontal tissue in several species of Delphinidae through three-dimensional observation using micro-computed tomography, histological observations using decalcified sections, and immunohistochemical analysis. The results indicated that the teeth and the periodontal tissues of dolphins are morphologically unique among mammals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAltered corneal reflex activity is a common feature of dry eye disease (DE). Trigeminal sensory nerves supply the ocular surface and terminate at the trigeminal interpolaris/caudalis (ViVc) transition and spinomedullary (VcC1) regions. Although both regions contribute to corneal reflexes, their role under dry eye conditions is not well defined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To describe configurations of human prenatal mandibular, lingual canals using a limited-field cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to examine their origin and anatomical significance.
Materials And Methods: Nine fetal mandibles were examined using a CBCT. Mandibular maturity was assessed according to the mandibular size measured directly and image findings on development of dental crypts.
Muscle regeneration supports muscle function in aging, and plays a role in the functional impairment caused by progressive neuromuscular diseases. Major substances controlling this process are growth factors and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, follistatin is known to antagonize the function of several members of the TGF-β family of secreted signaling factors, including myostatin-the most powerful inhibitor of muscle growth characterized to date.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Assessment of oral mucosal thickness is important in implant surgery; however, examining the soft tissue three dimensionally is difficult. A reamer method is invasive, and a non-invasive ultrasonic method produces only low-resolution images depending on anatomic variations. The emerging technology of spiral computed tomography (CT) is an alternative to the conventional methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUsing Hiranuma's classification, we carefully examined anatomical variations in the first compartments of 246 human wrist joints from 124 cadavers. Morphological examinations were conducted to determine the number of accessory tendons and the existence of dissepiments for the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendons. Anatomical variations of EPBs and APLs were grouped together by type, and appearance ratios were calculated based on Hiranuma's classification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this retrospective study with limited cone-beam computed tomography (limited CBCT), we investigated the anatomic characteristics of the accessory mental foramina and accessory branches of the mandibular canal. The CBCT records of approximately 150 patients were evaluated, and 17 accessory mental foramina were found in 16 patients. The anatomic peculiarities of the mandibular canal that might be relevant to endodontic treatment were observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe performed macroscopic observations of the sphenomandibular ligaments, and measured the space that is surrounded by the mandibular ramus and the ligament by using computed tomography. The materials used in this study were 40 heads of 40 adult cadavers. The cadaver head was cut on the mid sagittal plane.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The present study sought to clarify correlations of accessory nerve innervation in the neck region and innervation of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles with postoperative dysfunction after functional neck dissection by macroscopic observation.
Materials And Methods: The materials used in this study were 35 cadavers provided for anatomical practice to the Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College. The accessory nerve was identified at the anterior margin of the trapezius muscle, and its innervation in the posterior triangle of the neck was examined in detail.
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between large tubules and dentin caries by using human deciduous incisors that showed various levels of attrition but no macroscopical lesions resulting from caries. The teeth were cut longitudinally in the mesio-distal direction and the exposed surfaces observed with a high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscope. The inside of each large tubule showed dense collagen fibers running parallel to its long axis and small spherical bodies of aggregated crystals, but no marked attrition.
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