Faulty postures due to sedentary lifestyle cause weakening of core muscles which contributes to increased incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Although a few research studies have quantified the core muscle activity in various yogic exercises used in rehabilitation programs, evidence correlating it to functional anatomy is scarce. Such information is important for exercise prescription when formulating treatment plans for MSDs. Therefore, the objective of this review article is to examine the literature and analyze the muscle activity produced across various yoga postures to determine which type of yoga posture elicits the highest activation for the core muscle in individuals. Literature search was performed using the following electronic databases: Cochrane Library, NCBI, PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and web of science. The search terms contained: Core muscle activation and yogic posture OR yoga and rehabilitation OR intervention AND Electromyography. Activation of specific core muscle involved asanas which depended on trunk and pelvic movements. Description of specific yogic exercise as they relate to core muscles activation is described. This information should help in planning yogic exercises that challenge the muscle groups without causing loads that may be detrimental to recovery and pain-free movement. Knowledge of activation of muscles in various yogic postures can assist health-care practitioners to make appropriate decisions for the designing of safe and effective evidence-based yoga intervention for MSDs.

Background. The complex architecture of the right atrium, crista terminalis (CT), and the musculi pectinati (MP) poses enormous challenges in electrophysiology and cardiac conduction. Few studies have been undertaken to substantiate the gross features of MP, in relation to the CT, but there is still scarcity of data regarding this. We tried to reinvestigate the gross arrangement of muscle bundles in the right atrium. Methods. Utilizing 151 human hearts and orientation of MP and its variations and relationship to the CT were investigated along with taenia sagittalis (TS). Patterns of MP were grouped in 6 categories and TS under three groups. Result. A plethora of variations were observed. Analysis of all the specimen revealed that 68 samples (45%) were of type 1 category and 27 (18%) fell into type 2 category. Prominent muscular columns were reported in 12 samples (8%). 83 samples (55%) presented with a single trunk of TS. Multiple trunks of TS were reported in 38 samples (25%). Conclusion. Samples with type 6 MP and type B/type C TS, which have a more complex arrangement of fibers, have a tendency to be damaged during cardiac catheterization. Nonetheless, the area as a whole is extremely significant considering the pragmatic application during various cardiac interventions.

Telomeres, the repetitive sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes, help to maintain genomic integrity and are of key importance to human health. Telomeres progressively shorten throughout life and a number of studies have shown shorter telomere length to be associated with lifestyle disorders. Previous studies also indicate that yoga and lifestyle-based intervention have significant role on oxidative DNA damage and cellular aging. However, very few publications investigate telomere stability and its implication from the point of view of asana, pranayama, and meditation. In this context, a review was conducted to systematically assess the available data on the effectiveness of asana, pranayama, and meditation in maintaining telomere and telomerase. Literature search was performed using the following electronic databases: Cochrane Library, NCBI, PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Web of Science. We explored the possible mechanisms of how asana, pranayama, and meditation might be affecting telomere length and telomerase. Moreover, results showed that asana and pranayama increase the oxygen flow to the cells and meditation reduces the stress level by modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Summing up the result, it can be concluded that practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation can help to maintain genomic integrity and are of key importance to human health and lifestyle disorders.

Variations of upper limb muscles are quite commonly seen during dissection. Biceps Brachii take an edge on this, as it commonly has two or more than two sites of origin and insertion, where mode of insertion being both aponeurotic as well as tendinous. In present study, apart from common modes of insertion, an additional musculotendinous slip was seen running from the medial side of the muscle belly of Biceps Brachii to Pronator Teres and Flexor Carpi Radialis deep to the aponeurosis. The functional aspect of such insertion is also questionable as Biceps brachii being a supinator is gaining attachment to a Pronator Muscle. Presence of such abnormal musculotendinous tissue can pose a difficult situation during surgical procedures in and around cubital fossa and can also be a cause of nerve entrapment syndromes. Additional muscular slip can lead to compression of neurovascular structure around that area.

Human hand is involved in variety of precision work which requires a combined effort of forearm muscles as well as intrinsic muscles of hand. Lumbricals along with interossei muscles connect the tendons of flexor and extensor muscles and thus play a key role in the characteristic movements of human hands. Lumbricals originate from long flexor tendon and is inserted into dorsal digital expansion. Any variation in the attachment of these muscles can lead to deviation from the normal actions of the fingers and their proximal extension into carpal tunnel and might lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. An extremely rare case of first lumbrical taking origin solely from first tendon of Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (FDS) and having proximal attachment extending into carpal tunnel was noticed bilaterally in cadaveric dissection. These variations are always challenging for clinicians and surgeons during hand surgeries.

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is commonly associated with the weakness of pelvic floor muscles and the supporting connective tissue structures, which may lead to prolapse of the pelvic organs. There are various researches which have shown the significance of pelvic floor exercise (PFE) on the PFD. The last few years have seen a growing interest in the field of yoga. "Mudra" and "Bandha" are reported as pelvic floor yogic exercises (PFYEs) in the ancient Indian texts. These yogic exercises involve the coordination of breath, maintain the structural integrity of the pelvic floor, and thereby prevent PFD. It is recognized that all the female patients of PFD can be benefited from education on PFYE. So, in this article, we have tried to highlight the significance of PFYE in the preventive and therapeutic aspects of PFD.

Variations of the extensor group of muscles in the superior extremity are commonly reported. We are reporting a case of bilat eral complete absence of extensor indices muscle. Variation of the extensor indices is not uncommon showing cases with two, three and four tendons going to index fingers have been reported by many workers. The cases with bilateral absence of this muscle are barely reported, incidence usually ranging from 0 to 1 %. In a single study a high frequency of 4% has also been reported.

Meditation is a practice of concentration and relaxation. In philosophical terms, it is a process of gaining self-consciousness. Although there is diversity in meditation (Mindfulness, compassion, transcendental, and focused attention meditation), interventions show that meditation practices improve prefrontal cortex (PFC) functions like cognition, self-awareness, attention, and memory and reduce psychological symptoms. These results are thought to be due to meditation increasing functional connections of different brain regions. We reviewed to show the functional connectivity of the prefrontal cortex in various meditation practices. We were viewed various neuroimaging interventions of functional connectivity associated with the prefrontal cortex and different brain areas during meditation techniques on healthy meditators compared with non-meditators. fMRI findings show that meditation practices are associated with increased neural function and processing, default mode network, gray matter volume, and functional coupling in the brain area related to different parts of PFC. PFC's functional connectivity is associated with increased attention, working memory, cognitive control, executive control, emotion regulation, counteracting adverse effects, self-perception, and self-compassion. Furthermore, PFC's functional connectivity decreases anxiety, depression, perceived stress, negative emotion, and hyperarousal symptoms. In this review, we outlined the published effect of meditation on the function and structure of the different parts of the prefrontal cortex. We suggest a positive theoretical correlation between meditation and the functional connectivity of the prefrontal cortex. Altered prefrontal connectivity is seen in some neurological and psychosocial disorders. Therefore meditation can also play an influential role in treating these disorders.