On the presence of ganglion cells in the intracranial portion of the accessory nerve (XI cranial nerve) in some mammals.

The intracranial tract of the accessory nerve (XI cranial nerve) was studied in some mammals (equines, domestic and wild ruminants, pig, carnivores, rabbit, nutria, guinea pig, hamster, hedgehog). The specimens were embedded in paraffin or paraplast, the sections were stained with cresyl violet, haematoxylin and eosin, or submitted to argentic impregnation. Pseudounipolar ganglion cells were found in all the mammals examined, with the exception of the cat.

The retrotransverse foramen of the human atlas vertebra. A distinctive variant within primates.

The occurrence of a retrotransverse foramen of the atlas has been investigated in a series of 409 nonhuman primates representative of 40 genera, and in a series of 500 human atlases (dried bones). In nonhuman primates, no retrotransverse foramen was found in any of the individuals studied. In humans, the retrotransverse foramen was observed in 71 cases (14.

On the vegetative and sensitive innervation of the Retractor clitoridis muscle in some domestic animals.

The retractor clitoridis muscle originates from the coccygeal vertebrae in the cow, ewe, goat and mare, and from the anal musculature in the sow. It terminates at the base of the clitoris. In all the species considered, a vegetative innervation was found.

Comparative study of sensitive and vegetative innervation of external and internal anal sphincter muscles in different mammals.

Proprioceptive innervation of the external anal sphincter muscle and the organization of the vegetative and sensitive nerve components of the internal and sphincter muscle have been studied in different mammals. The findings of typical muscle spindles in the external anal sphincter muscle were constant in the pig, frequent in the goat and cow, rare in the sheep and horse and absent in the roe and rabbit. In the pig, muscle spindles were observed in the entire extension of the muscle, while in the sheep, goat, cow and horse, the receptors were found only in the cranial portion of the muscle.

The lymphatic vessels and their relationship to lymph formation in the human urinary bladder.

After endoscopic transurethral biopsies of normal human urinary bladder, an extensive network of small initial lymphatic vessels was depicted by means of light and electron microscopy. Using light microscopy, lymphatic vessels were seen in the mucosa and submucosa and formed a complex network in the detrusor muscular coat. These lymphatics were characterized by an irregular and attenuated wall and increased in number and size from the superficial to the deeper region of the bladder.

Biphalangeal and triphalangeal toes in the evolution of the human foot.

The number of phalanges of the human toes was investigated in a series of 2,550 radiographs. Classical triphalangia of the lateral toes (2-5) was observed in 1,440 cases (56.47%).

The sesamoid bone of musculus abductor pollicis longus (os radiale externum or prepollex) in primates.

The sesamoid bone of the musculus abductor pollicis longus has been investigated in a series of 276 nonhuman primates representative of 37 genera, and in a series of 300 radiographs of human subjects. The presence of this ossicle in primates is a primitive characteristic. It is present in all nonhuman primates, and is generally articulated with both the scaphoid and trapezium.

Further observations on the morphology and sensitive innervation of the retractor penis muscle in several species of ungulates.

The retractor penis muscle originates from the vertebrae in pigs, horses, cattle and goats; it arises from the rectum in sheep. In all the species considered, sensitive innervation was found. This was represented by encapsulated receptors.

Ultracytochemical localization of adenylate cyclase in early human placenta.

A cytochemical study was carried out on adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in the early human placenta. Samples of placental villi were incubated in a medium containing adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) as specific substrate. No AC reaction product was encountered in placenta villi taken at 5 and 7 weeks of pregnancy.

The ventral metacarpo- and metatarso-phalangeal sesamoid bones: comparative anatomy and evolutionary aspects.

A study of comparative anatomy was made to determine the distribution of metapodo-phalangeal sesamoid bones among the different mammalian species for a better understanding of the variations and origins of these bones in man, and that in the context of renewed interest in non-metrical characteristics of the post-cranial skeleton in physical anthropology. The material used included 457 non-primate mammalian skeletons divided into 18 orders, 63 families, and 161 genera, 211 non-human primate skeletons divided into 37 genera, and 2,500 human radiographs (1,250 hands and 1,250 feet). 2 sesamoid bones were constantly observed for each metapodo-phalangeal joint in almost all mammalian orders.