Anatomic variability of the nerves of the triceps surae in early human fetuses

Background. Establishing fetal anatomical variability of intramuscular nerves and their connections plays an important role in the search for and development of new methods for the diagnostic and treatment posterior region of the leg. Objective – to find out the topographic and anatomical features of the innervation of the triceps surae in human fetuses 4-6 months. Methods. The study was performed on 46 human fetuses 81.0-230.0 mm crown-rump length (CRL) length using macromicroscopic preparation, vascular injection, and morphometry. Results. In early human fetuses, the anatomical variability of the distribution of intramuscular nerves in the thickness of the triceps surae was established, which is due to the variability of the structure and topography of the tibial nerve, structural and functional organization of triceps surae, arterial branching and interneural connections in the thickness of the heads of the gastrocnemius and soleus in fetuses of different and the same age groups, and sometimes in the same fetus. Conclusion. The main source of innervation of the triceps surae is the tibial nerve, which can be presented by a single trunk, main and additional trunks, or several independent trunks. The nerves in the thickness of the triceps are unevenly distributed. The highest concentration of muscular branches of the tibial nerve is determined in the medial head of the gastrocnemius and the medial part of the soleus. Information on fetal topography of intramuscular nerves in the thickness of the right and left triceps surae, as well as forms of their anatomical variability, both in fetuses of different and the same age and sometimes in the same fetus, due to structural-functional organization of the components of the triceps surae, the type of branching of arteries and nerves in the thickness of the heads of the gastrocnemius and soleus. Atypical variants of the topography of the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve in early fetuses, as well as interneural connections in the thickness of the components of the triceps surae, are more common on the right lower leg.

Spatiotemporal Expression of SHH/GLI Signaling in Human Fetal Bladder Development

Objectives: Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling is important in bladder development. Mice with defective hedgehog signaling develop bladder anomalies. Clinically, urinary tract malformations are reported in human fetuses and infants with mutations of SHH and related signaling pathway genes. Information on the expression of SHH and associated signaling genes in normal human bladder development is fragmentary. This study determined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of SHH signaling pathway components in human fetal bladders by immunohistochemistry (IHC).Material and Methods: Twenty-four bladder specimens from 16 male and 8 female human fetuses aged 12- to 36-week (wk) were obtained from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. The tissue slides were processed for IHC staining with SHH, Patched1 (PTC-1), Patched2 (PTC-2), Smoothened (SMO), GLI1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The expression levels of each gene were analyzed by semi-quantitative histological scoring system.Results: High intensity of SHH and SMO expression was detected in developing bladder urothelial cells, with no staining in lamina propria (LP), but with minimal expression of SMO in differentiating smooth muscle (SM) layers. The spatial distribution pattern of PTC1 and GLI1 was more complex with minimal expression in the LP layer, moderate expression in the SM layer, and high expression in the urothelium. PTC2 expression was mainly localized in the urothelium and LP, but no expression in the SM layer. All of the SHH signaling components were detected in fetal bladder tissues throughout the development, with expression peaks at 12- and 23-wk, coinciding with high cell proliferation as indicated by PCNA staining in the cell nuclei of urothelium and SM.Conclusions: The autocrine SHH signaling in the developing urothelium, and paracrine SHH signaling in the developing smooth muscle layer, mediated by SMO, PTC-1 and GLI1 were demonstrated during human bladder development. Expression of SHH signaling components peaked at 12-and 23-wk. The first expression peak at 12-wk may relate to urothelium growth, SM induction, and dilation of the bladder cavity. The second expression peaked at 23-wk may relate to urothelium and SM layer differentiation.

Publiczne eksponowanie banerów antyaborcyjnych w kontekście granic swobody ekspresji

In the article, the author analyzes, from the perspective of the limits of the freedom of speech, one of the controversial forms of expression on the permissibility of abortion. This form of expression consists of presentation in public spaces, large-format photographs containing images of bloody dead human fetuses. Banners containing these types of photographs are presented without any restrictions, which means that anyone, including children, can view them. For this text, common court judgements in which the courts held that this form of expression is not protected by freedom of speech were collected and analyzed. The analysis of the judgments of common courts was complemented by reference to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Anatomical Variability of Fascial-Muscle Formations of the Thorax in 4-6-Month Human Fetuses

The development of rational accesses and methods of surgical interventions to the chest walls, muscles and vascular-nerve formations of the chest involves clarifying data on the topography of fascia, superficial and deep muscles of the chest at different stages of human ontogenesis. The purpose of the study. Identification of macromicroscopic structure and topography of fascia and chest muscles in 4-6-month human fetuses. Materials and methods. The study was performed using microscopy of a series of consecutive histological sections of 29 human embryos of 81.0-230.0 mm parietal-coccygeal length, production of three-dimensional reconstruction models and morphometry. Results and discussion. In some early fetuses, and in isolated cases in the same fetus, there is anatomical variability of the pectoralis major muscle, characterized by asymmetry of shape, size and topography of individual parts of the right and left pectoralis major muscles. The underdevelopment of the individual muscle bundles of the sternocostal part of the pectoralis major muscle, hypoplasia of the internal intervertebral muscles, aplasia of the external intercostal membrane, internal intercostal and subcostal muscles, transverse muscles of the chest is described. Conclusion. In human fetuses of 4-6 months old there is anatomical variability of the chest muscles, characterized by bilateral asymmetry, variability of shape, size and topography of both their individual parts and muscle as a whole. In early human fetuses, thoracic fascia is a rather thin structural plate, in the structure of which there is no layering. Intervertebral spaces at the level of rib cartilage are filled with internal intervertebral muscles, the fibers of which near the edges of the thorax have a vertical direction, and from the point of connection of the rib cartilage to the thorax – oblique. In the gap between the external and internal intervertebral muscles of fascia as such is not manifested, but only a small layer of loose fiber is determined, in which the vascular-nerve bundles pass. In the fetuses of 6 months, the endothorаcic fascia on the posterior wall of the chest is somewhat thickened, split into separate plates and forms fascial cases for vascular-nerve formations located near the spinal column

Method of Macromicroscopic Preparation for Determination of Fetal Anatomical Variability of the Thoracic Part of the Aorta

To obtain data about the formation of fetal macroscopic structure and topography of the thoracic part of the aorta, which can be used for age-related mapping, it is necessary to determine a standard sequence of steps during the preparation of these structures. The purpose of the study was to determine the method of the best rational sequence of actions during the preparation of areas of the posterior mediastinum in human fetuses to obtain standard results, useful for comparing in the age aspect. Materials and methods. The study was performed on 35 human fetuses of 4-10 months by macromicroscopic preparation of organs, vessels, and nerves of the posterior mediastinum. Results and discussion. In the study of fetal anatomical variability of branches and nerves of the thoracic aorta in the age aspect, the algorithm of anatomical preparation of the posterior mediastinum becomes a priority. However, in the literary sources available to us, we did not find information about the sequence of actions during the preparation of the posterior mediastinum, including the thoracic aorta in human fetuses. The innervation of the thoracic part of aorta on both sides mainly involves the branches of the II-VI thoracic nodes of the sympathetic trunk, the great visceral nerve, and the branch of the vagus nerve. Adherence to the following sequence of actions during the preparation of the posterior mediastinum, and in particular, the branches and nerves of the thoracic aorta, in human fetuses, provides not only the scientific value of the results but also the rational use of biological material. Conclusion. The proposed and tested method of dissection of nerves, visceral and parietal branches of the thoracic aorta in human fetuses provides a standard for obtaining data about their typical, individual, and age anatomical variability. The innervation of the thoracic aorta mainly involves the branches of the II-VI thoracic nodes of the sympathetic trunk, the great visceral nerve, and the branch of the vagus nerve. Nerve branches leading to the thoracic aorta from various sources enter its wall either together with blood vessels or in isolation. In human fetuses, between the right and left sympathetic trunks and the thoracic part of the aorta, in addition to the intermediate plexus or collateral trunk, a paraaortic plexus is found, the branches of which participate in the innervation of the thoracic aorta. Bilateral asymmetry of the structure and topography of the plexuses of the thoracic aorta was detected. The sequence of actions used during the preparation of the thoracic aorta in human fetuses preserves the natural appearance and relationships between the branches and nerves of the object of the study