Sphenomandibular ligament and degenerating Meckel's cartilage revisited: Sequential variations with temporal bone deformity for ligament attachment in near-term human fetuses.

Background: The sphenomandibular ligament (SML) is considered to originate from Meckel's cartilage (MC). However, no study has examined how the os goniale contributes to SML development.

Methods: Semiserial histological sections of heads from 18 near-term fetuses at 27-40 weeks of gestation were examined.

Characteristic findings in the human fetus vestibule: A human temporal bone study.

Objective: The "collapse," a highly flexed, dented, or caved membrane between the endo- and peri-lymph of the saccule and utricle in adults, is considered as a morphological aspect of Ménière's syndrome. Likewise, when mesh-like tissues in the perilymphatic space are damaged or lost, the endothelium loses mechanical support and causes nerve irritation. However, these morphologies were not examined in fetuses.

Transient connection between the vestibular aqueduct and utricle: A study using sagittal sections of human embryonic heads.

Background: The aqeductus vestibuli (aqueduct) is believed to connect to the saccule in embryos and adults. However, in embryos, the saccule and utricle are known to communicate widely to provide a common endolymph space "atrium".

Methods: Using sagittal histological sections from five embryos (crown-rump length or CRL, 14-21 mm), nine early fetuses (CRL 24-35 mm) and 12 midterm and near-term fetuses (CRL 82-272 mm), we revisited the development and growth of the human ear aqueduct.

Development and growth of the human fetal sacroiliac joint revisited: a comparison with the temporomandibular joint.

The human fetal sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is characterized by unequal development of the paired bones and delayed cavitation. Thus, during the long period, the bony ilium becomes adjacent to the cartilaginous sacrum. This mor-phology may be analogous to that of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Development and growth of the calcaneal tendon sheath with special reference to its topographical relationship with the tendon of the plantaris muscle: a histological study of human fetuses.

Background And Purpose: The calcaneal tendon sheath has several vascular routes and is a common site of inflammation. In adults, it is associated with the plantaris muscle tendon, but there are individual variations in the architecture and insertion site. We describe changes of the tendon sheath during fetal development.

Major change in morphology of the talofibular ligaments during fetal development and growth.

Background And Purpose: Ankle sprain is often attributed to damage of the anterior and posterior talofibular ligaments (ATFL, PTFL). We compared the morphology of these ligaments in fetuses of different gestational ages (GAs) with the horizontal configuration in adults.

Materials And Methods: Histological sections of unilateral ankles were examined in 22 fetuses, 10 at GA of 9-12 weeks and 12 at GA of 26-39 weeks.

Relationship of the fabella with the origins of the plantaris and gastrocnemius lateral head muscles in late-term fetuses: a histological study.

Previous studies of midterm fetuses indicated that a cartilaginous fabella appeared to be embedded in the plantaris (PL), and was fused with the gastrocnemius lateral head (GL). We re-examined the topographical anatomy of the fabella or its analogue (a tight fibrous mass) originating in the GL and/or PL by evaluating histological sections of the unilateral knees of 15 late-term fetuses. Regardless of whether the cartilaginous fabella was present (6 fetuses) or absent (9 fetuses), the origins of the PL and GL muscles each had three parts.

Paratenon of the cruciate ligaments of the knee: a macroscopic and histological study of human foetuses.

Background: The paratenon is a sheath-like connective tissue that allows the tendon to move with minimal friction. The careful removal of the paratenon along the cruciate ligaments is a critical step of knee surgery. Thus, orthopaedic surgeons and interventional radiologists consider the paratenon as a basic anatomical tissue along a ligament, not along a tendon.

Distribution of sole Pacinian corpuscles: a histological study using near-term human feet.

Introduction: Fast-adapting afferent input from the sole Pacinian corpuscles (PCs) is essential for walking. However, the distribution of PCs in the plantar subcutaneous tissue remains unknown.

Materials And Methods: Using histological sections tangential to the plantar skin of eight near-term fetuses, we counted 528-900 PCs per sole.

A missing distal complex of the external and internal anal sphincters: a macroscopic and histologic study using Japanese and German elderly cadavers.

The lower margin of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) is considered to lie on a J-shaped, subcutaneous part (SCP) of the external anal sphincter (EAS). The lower IAS is united with the J-shaped SCP to form a smooth-striated muscle complex. In the first part of this study, we ensured the presence of the J-shaped EAS in the lateral wall of the anal canal from 12 near-term fetuses.