One hundred eighty-one dissected hands were examined to study the pattern of extensor tendons on the dorsum of the hand. Extensor digitorum often had multiple tendons for the middle and ring fingers. Its contribution to the little finger was usually by a bifurcating tendon common with that of the ring finger. The index finger always received a single tendon. Intertendinous connections between the various tendons of the extensor digitorum were variable but were most frequent between ring and middle fingers. Extensor indicis had one tendon in most of the specimens and it was always on the ulnar side of the extensor digitorum tendon. This remained true even when there were multiple tendons. Extensor digiti minimi had two tendons in most cases. It was always linked to extensor digitorum either by receiving one or part of its tendon or by an intertendinous connection. Two accessory muscles were seen, one was extensor indicis brevis replacing the proper muscle. The other, the extensor medii brevis, was distributed to the middle finger.

No abstract

The fifth lumbar spinal nerve traverses a highly mobile transitional junction of the vertebral column. Evidence suggests that it is often implicated in the etiology of low-back pain, notably in entrapment syndromes. There appears to be a high incidence of unsuccessful attempts at surgical decompression in cases of suspected entrapment of the nerve, suggesting that perhaps the anatomical information on the topography of the nerve is incomplete. The present study examined the course and relations of the fifth lumbar spinal nerve by gross dissection of human cadaveric material. The results showed that the nerve and its subdivisions follow a complex, tortuous course as they cross the lumbosacral junction. The trunk and ventral and dorsal rami are all related to strong ligaments that are thought to be protective. The nearness of these nerves to ligaments in such an area of high mobility, however, predisposes them to impingement or entrapment in the event of joint or ligamentous pathology. It is suggested therefore that investigations of spondylogenic low-back pain should include a detailed evaluation of the status of all parts of the fifth lumbar spinal nerve as they traverse their individual osteoligamentous compartments.

Monkeypox (MPX) has become a global health emergency, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). Primary symptoms include fever, headache, and rashes. There has been considerable concern about primary cutaneous symptoms and lesions, but other rare manifestations have been avoided. Neurological manifestations like headaches, malaise, myalgia, anorexia, and altered consciousness have also been reported. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently reported 2 cases of encephalomyelitis, which has caught the attention of the world’s health community. There is not enough evidence to explain the transmission of MPX to the central nervous system in humans. Previous studies on monkeypox-infected animals have reported probable transmission routes. Neuropsychiatric effects of MPX have also not been investigated. In this letter, we have highlighted various neurological aspects of MPX. This letter stresses the need to understand the biological mechanisms underlying these complications, so better measures can be taken to deal with them.