Pulmonary appendix of the short-tailed shrew (Blarina): a unique immunologic organ.

The right bronchus of the short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda, terminates in a nonrespiratory pulmonary appendix (PA) containing two bronchial extensions. The experimentally demonstrated ability of these structures to collect and peristaltically expel aspirated material was initially assumed to be a sufficient reason for their developmental persistence, but as bronchus associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) became a subject of immunologic interest in other species, a possible immunologic role for the concentrations of BALT observed in the shrew PA were investigated. As the BALT of the PA contained many well-differentiated plasma cells and numerous particle-containing macrophages, 6-mu paraffin sections were treated with an immunoperoxidase avidin-biotin preparation that chromogenically identified alpha chains of IgA in many of the PA plasma cells and their associated luminal secretions.

The vascular pattern of the human dorsal root ganglion and its probable bearing on a compartment syndrome.

Study Design: A descriptive anatomic investigation of the vasculature of the dorsal root ganglions.

Objectives: To determine whether the blood supply of the various spinal ganglions is sufficiently consistent to derive a "generic" description and illustration that would be applicable to all spinal levels, and to ascertain whether this vascular pattern is inherently predisposed to the development of a closed compartment syndrome.

Summary Of Background Data: The few previous descriptions of spinal ganglionic vasculature do not include photographic evidence showing uniformity in the arterial distribution plan at all ganglionic levels.