Purpose: The quadriceps femoris (QF) consists of four muscles: the rectus femoris; vastus medialis; vastus lateralis, and vastus intermediate. The tendons of all of these parts join together into a single tendon that attaches to the patella. The QF is a powerful extensor of the knee joint that is needed for walking. A growing number of publications have examined the fifth head of the QF muscle. There is no information about the possibility of other heads, and there is no correct classification of their proximal attachments. Further, the frequency of occurrence of additional heads/components of the QF remains unclear. Methods: One hundred and six lower limbs (34 male and 18 female) fixed in 10% formalin solution were examined. Results: Additional heads of the QF were present in 64.1% of the limbs. Three main types were identified and included subtypes. The most common was Type I (44.1%), which had an independent fifth head. This type was divided into two subtypes (A-B) depending on its location relative to the vastus intermediate. The second most common type was Type II (30.8%), which originated from other muscles: IIA from the vastus lateralis; IIB from the vastus intermediate, and IIC from the gluteus minimus. In addition, Type III (25%) was characterized by multiple heads: IIIA-two heads with a single common tendon; IIIB-two heads with two separate tendons; IIIC-three heads (lateral, intermediate, medial), and IIID-four heads (bifurcated lateral and bifurcated medial). Conclusion: The introduction of a new classification based on a proximal attachment is necessary. The presence of the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth head varies.

The coeliac trunk is major visceral branch of the abdominal aorta. Familiarity with anatomic variations of the coeliac trunk is relevant for planning radiological and surgical procedures. The aim of our research was determining variations of the coeliac trunk, including the occurrence of accessory hepatic arteries. 40 cadavers were studied. Six patterns of coeliac trunk branching were observed in this study. Accessory hepatic arteries were observed in seven specimens (17.5%). The most prevalent variation was normal trifurcation, accounting for 62.5% of cases. The rarest variation was absence of the coeliac trunk, with an incidence of 2.5%. In this variant the left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery, and the splenic artery branched directly off the abdominal aorta. The study material allowed to distinguish two coeliac tunk branching patterns which, to the best of our knowledge, have not been reported before. It was a type with four branches originating from the coeliac trunk: the left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery, the splenic artery, and right accessory hepatic artery. The other previously unreported pattern variant was also a coeliac trunk which gave off the coeliac trunk gave off three branches: the common hepatic artery, the splenic artery and right accessory hepatic artery. The average distance between the aortic hiatus and the coeliac trunk calculated for all the cadavers amounted to 54 mm (SD = 11.85 mm). The average distance between the coeliac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery was 11.1 mm (SD = 7.7 mm).

PurposeThe palmaris longus (PL) muscle is characterized by high-morphological variability. It is clinically important as it is routinely harvested for the reconstruction of other tendons. The study characterizes the morphology of the PL in human fetuses and creates a new classification based on its variations that would relate to the spectrum of morphological variability in adults.MethodsEighty spontaneously aborted human foetuses (44 male, 36 female, 160 upper limbs), aged 18–38 weeks of gestation, were examined.ResultsThe palmaris longus muscle was present in 62.5% of fetuses. The absence was bilateral in 26.25%, and unilateral in 22.5%. Nine types of palmaris longus muscles were identified based on the morphology of its insertion (Types I–IX). All types originated on the medial epicondyle of the humerus. The most common type was Type I, which was characterized by insertion to the palmar aponeurosis (52%). The rarest types were Type VII and Type IX (1% each). Type VII was characterized by partial doubling of the muscle belly, which then turned into two separate tendons that inserted together into the palmar aponeurosis. Type IX was characterized by fusion with the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle.ConclusionOur findings concerning morphological variability of the PL in fetuses present a new perspective on the understanding nature of the morphological variation of the PL muscle in adults.List of evidenceBasic Science Study.

Constipation is one of the major gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed in clinical practice in Western countries. Almost 20% of population suffer from this disorder, which means constipation is a substantial utilization of healthcare. Pathophysiology of constipation is complex and multifactorial, where aspects like disturbance in colonic transit, genetic predisposition, lifestyle habits, psychological distress, and many others need to be taken into consideration. Diagnosis of constipation is troublesome and requires thorough accurate examination. A nonpharmacological approach, education of the patient about the importance of lifestyle changes like diet and sport activity state, are the first line of therapy. In case of ineffective treatment, pharmacological treatments such as laxatives, secretagogues, serotonergic agonists, and many other medications should be induced. If pharmacologic treatment fails, the definitive solution for constipation might be surgical approach. Commonness of this disorder, costs of medical care and decrease in quality life cause constipation is a serious issue for many specialists. The aim of this review is to present current knowledge of chronic constipation and management of this disorder.

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Knowledge of the morphological variations within the abdominal cavity is significant for all medical practitioners planning surgery. This report presents the rare origin of a common trunk for the right inferior phrenic artery, and superior and inferior suprarenal artery from the right renal artery. An accessory hepatic artery was found, which served as a branch of the right inferior phrenic artery. The diameter of the common trunk was 3.95 mm, and the diameters of the inferior and superior suprarenal arteries were 1.84 and 1.36 mm, respectively. The diameter of the right inferior phrenic artery was 2.55 mm. Both the embryological background and the potential clinical significance of this morphological variation are discussed. Knowledge of this common trunk and the occurrence of the accessory right hepatic artery may be of significance in diagnostic and surgical procedures.

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Knowledge of vessel anomalies is significant for all specialists in clinical practice and may prevent serious complications following medical interventions. Here, the rare coexistence of a duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) and nutcracker syndrome in a 42-year-old female patient with atypical abdominal pain is presented, using two complementary radiological techniques (colour Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomography angiography). The right renal vein was found to be compressed when passing between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta. The lumen dimensions (width  height) of the right IVC and left IVC at the level of termination were 15.8  17.7 mm and 13.4  12.4 mm, respectively. Ultrasonography revealed low blood flow in the left IVC that was reversed, and thus blood travelled in the same caudal direction as in the aorta. In the right IVC, however, flow travelled in the cranial direction. The simultaneous existence of a duplicated IVC and nutcracker syndrome is an extremely rare vessel anomaly; nevertheless, this dual presence may result in clinical symptoms and would have an impact on medical operations and even minor medical procedures.