The main aim of this study was to provide an overview of the anatomy of the dorsal hood (DH) based on the dissection of sixteen cadaver hands, correlated with magnetic resonance (MR) and ultrasound findings. A secondary aim was to assess the function of components of the DH. Sixteen embalmed hands were evaluated by MRI and ultrasound before being dissected. Each hand was photographed during each stage of dissection. Secondly we evaluated the role of the different structures of the DH in the stability of the extensor tendon by transection of the different components alternatively at the ulnar and radial sides. MR, ultrasound, and dissection showed that the extensor tendon (ET) is stabilized by the sagittal band (SB) at the level of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint and more distally by the transverse and the oblique bands, respectively. Transection of the radial SB of the second finger leads systematically to ulnar dislocation of the ET. The transection of the ulnar DH does not lead to instability of the ET. The SB is the most important structure of the DH in the stability of the ET at the MCP level. Rupture of the radial SB of the second finger leads systematically to ulnar dislocation of the ET.

Interspinous and weight-bearing tibial cysts are common in severe knee osteoarthritis. The cysts contain necrotic bone fragments and are lined by a nonepithelial fibrous wall. Our findings support the hypothesis that interspinous cysts could result from repetitive bone stresses through the cruciate ligaments. Our findings do not support the use of the term "herniation cyst."

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The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is made up of different components and spans the medial aspect of the knee. With injuries the superficial or deep and posterior components may be involved. A variety of conditions including MCL bursitis, medial osteoarthritis, medial cellulitis, medial bursitis, medial meniscal cyst, meniscocapsular separation, and retinacular tear may present with high signal surrounding the MCL fibers and simulate an MCL tear.

We present a review of sonography of the flexor and extensor system of the hand and wrist in volunteers and cadavers. CT tenography also was performed in cadaveric specimens. Anatomical structures of the extensor system that were assessed with sonography included the extensor tendons and insertions, retinaculum, and dorsal hood. On the flexor side, the variable relationship between the flexor superficialis and profundus could be appreciated. Volar plates, tendon insertions, and annular pulleys could also be investigated. Sonography can show details of the finger flexor and extensor system.

The axillary arch (AA) has been thoroughly studied and described as a supernumerary muscle, present unilaterally or bilaterally. This study aims to provide an in vivo demonstration of the influence of an AA on vascular, biometrical, and hemodynamic parameters. Two-hundred thirty-nine subjects with a mean age of 21.3 ± 2.7 years participated in this study. After visual screening by two independent experts, 20 subjects (8.4%) presented with an AA unilaterally (n = 12) or bilaterally (n = 8). An echo-Doppler examination of the vena and arteria axillaris was performed to measure blood flow, velocity of circulating elements, and blood vessel diameter in different positions of the arm (abduction: 45°, 90°, 90° combined with exorotation 'ER', 120°). The arteria axillaris parameters, measured in the test (n = 9; six women, three men) and control group (n = 11; six women, five men), were equivalent for all tested positions. The axillary vein parameters, compared to variations within the groups, revealed no significant differences. However, when comparing variation between groups, significant differences were found for (i) diameter in 90° abduction + ER and 120° abduction; (ii) velocity in 90° and 120° abduction. Blood flow demonstrated no significant difference between groups in any of the positions. The results of this study indicate that there is no functional vascular implication of the AA in the test samples. This study also questions the interpretation of some hypotheses regarding the AA and entrapment syndromes.

made a very useful study of the vastus medialis part of the quadriceps femoris muscle. Since a decade, physiotherapists largely advocate training of the distal most transverse part of the vastus medialis, they call vastus medialis oblique (VMO), for the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndromes (Shelton and Thigpen, 1991). On many occasions, we met therapists attending symposia and workshops who were disappointed they could not see the VMO on demonstration specimens exposed in the dissecting room. Clearly, the use of the term VMO has induced a belief that the distal part of vastus medialis is a distinct muscle belly. As Peeler and coworkers pointed out, there is no anatomically distinct VMO. Since a couple of years, we had the intention to put one or more of our students on a similar study. As a preliminary approach, we observed the vastus medialis on cadavers routinely dissected by medical students during two consecutive academic years at the universities of Gent and Brussels. We examined more than 100 cadavers. Although the quality of these observations was poor due to previous dissections, we decided not to start the study, because we did not find a clear separation of the VMO, except in one single leg.

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