International Journal of Cadaveric Studies and Anatomical Variations

Rereading the Anatomy of Duodenum a Distinct Part of the Digestive Tract

Abdelmonem Awad Mustafa Hegazy — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The duodenum is known to be a part of the small intestine that, along with the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum, and anal canal, forms the digestive “or alimentary” tract. The small intestine is commonly described as consisting of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. In this article, we will explain the anatomy of the duodenum, focusing on its characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of the small intestine. The duodenum has a distinct anatomy that differs from the other small intestine sections in several aspects, including the reception of bile and pancreatic secretions and its location as a retroperitoneal structure. The jejunum and ileum form the coils of the small intestine that are exposed when the peritoneal cavity is opened during surgery. Therefore, it is important to distinguish the duodenum from the rest of the small intestine and consider it as an independent part of the digestive tract and not part of the small intestine, especially in medical education. This would make understanding its anatomy easier and eliminate confusion, especially for undergraduate medical students.

Vascular Pathology: A Multifocal Cadaveric Analysis of Arterial Aneurysms

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This case study aims to describe an extensive and rare case regarding the discovery of multisystemic aneurysms identified during cadaveric dissection spanning multiple vascular territories including the abdominal aorta, common and internal iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries. This case serves to provide an understanding of anatomical diversity and the potential clinical implications for the development of widespread arterial aneurysms, including the prospective possibility regarding the influence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and connective tissue disorders on aneurysm formation. Anatomic and pathologic observations were made of a phenol-fixed elderly male cadaveric donor with a known history of COPD during an eight-week anatomical dissection course. Biopsy tissue samples collected from the superior lobe of the right lung, left ventricle of the heart, left anterior descending coronary artery, lymph node, and right common iliac artery were histologically analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Dissection revealed eleven atherosclerotic and non-ruptured aneurysms located in the abdominal aorta, bilateral common iliac, internal iliac, bilateral proximal and distal femoral, and popliteal arteries. No evidence of surgical intervention was found. This case illustrates widespread arterial aneurysms and emphasizes the value of cadaveric studies in detecting rare vascular presentations that may have significant implications for diagnosis, treatment planning, and surgical intervention. Additionally, the potential correlation with COPD and connective tissue disorders invites further investigation into systemic contributions to aneurysm formation.

Crossed fused renal ectopia with herniation into the scrotum: A cadaveric case report

Emily Cushing, Jonathan Peters, Jodie Foster, Caroline Gundler — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:47:45 -0500

Background: Congenital kidney anomalies, such as horseshoe kidney and unilateral renal agenesis, are rare, occurring in 0.2% and 0.1% of live births, respectively. Vesicoureteral reflux, affecting 1-3% of children, is more common and often associated with recurrent urinary tract infections.

Methods: During routine dissection of a whole-body donor, a rare case of a right-sided renal ectopia with suspected scrotal herniation was observed. The donor, a 108-year-old white male with a history of arrhythmia, lacked a left kidney with no evidence of nephrectomy.

Results: The remaining kidney was ectopically located in the right iliac fossa, with its inferior pole terminating at the inguinal ligament. The parenchyma was embedded superiorly within the psoas major muscle and extended inferiorly into the scrotal sac. Fascial attachments to perinephric fat were observed, with the fat herniating into the scrotum. Within the scrotum, the perinephric fat and its fascial connections were fused with the right testicle, which had an elongated vas deferens. The kidney appeared to be fused, with evidence of a shared blood supply and ureter configuration consistent with a crossed fused renal ectopia.

Conclusion: This study identifies a unique case of a pelvic kidney with perinephric fat herniation into the scrotum, immobilizing the kidney. It highlights the complex interplay between urinary and reproductive anatomy and underscores the importance of recognizing such variations. These can impact renal function, fertility and surgical outcomes. Greater awareness of these anomalies can improve diagnostic accuracy and inform clinical decision making.

Unilateral Accessory Slip of the Splenius Capitis Muscle: A Case Report

Ritika Kaswa, Ankita Pareek, Dharmendra Choudhary, Neha Udainiya — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Introduction: Anatomical variations in the muscles of the posterior neck are relatively uncommon, especially involving the serratus posterior superior muscle.

Case Description: This case report describes an unusual unilateral variant of the serratus posterior superior muscle found during routine dissection of a formalin-fixed male cadaver. On the right side of the neck, an accessory muscle slip was discovered, originating from the mastoid process of the temporal bone close to the typical attachment site of the splenius capitis muscle. This abnormal muscle travelled superficially over the native splenius capitis and splenius cervicis muscles, then continued deep to the rhomboid minor, and inserted into the fascia on the serratus posterior superior muscle near the medial attachment of the serratus posterior superior muscle. No similar variation was seen on the opposite side, making this a unilateral finding.

Conclusion: This variant was named the "Accessory serratus posterior superior muscle" based on its origin and insertion pattern. Recognizing such muscular variations is clinically important because they may mimic soft tissue masses in imaging studies or contribute to myofascial pain syndromes. Awareness of these anomalies is essential for clinicians, radiologists, and surgeons involved in head and neck diagnostics and interventions, as it helps prevent misdiagnosis and guides appropriate treatment planning.

A New Look at the Gross Anatomy of the Stomach to Understand How It Functions

Abdelmonem Awad Mustafa Hegazy — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 07:39:53 -0600

The anatomy of any organ in the human body indicates its function. Understanding the structure of the stomach can help in understanding how it functions. In this short review, we have tried to clarify the gross anatomy of the stomach in relation to its proper function. The stomach is a hollow organ, located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. Its domed upper part, called the fundus, lies cranial to the cardiac orifice, or in other words, above the entrance to the stomach from the esophagus. This gas-filled area helps the stomach perform its function of breaking down and churning the food that enters the body of the stomach. Furthermore, the diaphragm separates the fundus of the stomach from the heart and left lung. The largest part of the stomach, called the body, is the section that lies directly below the upper "cardiac" orifice of the stomach, and receives swallowed food. The body of the stomach leads to a horizontal section called the pylorus, which terminates at the sphincter muscle in the distal “pyloric” orifice. The strong pyloric sphincter muscle keeps food inside the stomach, where it is emulsified and digested, then it opens to direct the food into the duodenum. To perform the mechanical breakdown of food properly, the fundus must be empty of food and the body of the stomach must contain fluids that help emulsify the food. Any attempt to completely fill the stomach with food while eating may hinder the digestive process. Filling of the stomach may also compress the chest cavity, including the lungs and heart, which may lead to dyspnea and palpitation. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid completely filling the stomach with food while eating, as this is crucial for proper digestion and, consequently, good health.