The menisco-femoral ligaments were studied in 60 knees from 30 dissecting room cadavers. The anterior horns of the menisci were attached to the intercondylar area of the femur by discrete antero-medial or antero-lateral menisco-femoral ligaments, separate from the anterior cruciate ligament, in 15% of knees for each meniscus, more frequently than previously appreciated; these anterior horn ligaments may exacerbate a meniscal tear. The posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was connected with the intercondylar area of the femur in 100% of knees. In 93% of knees a ligament ran behind the posterior cruciate ligament while in 33% of knees a ligament ran in front of the posterior cruciate ligament. We propose renaming these the pre-cruciate postero-lateral menisco-femoral ligament and post-cruciate postero-lateral menisco-femoral ligament, respectively, to avoid confusion with the ligaments of the anterior horns. The menisco-femoral ligaments may function in controlling movement of the menisci, especially during rotation of the knee. The posterior horn of the medial meniscus has no direct femoral attachment and this may be a factor in the increased risk of injury to this meniscus.

No abstract

The brain was removed from cadavers using a modified technique involving additionally the removal of most of the squamous occipital bone and laminae of the upper cervical vertebrae. The resulting specimens were superior to the usual ones in that the medulla oblongata, the upper spinal cord, and all the cranial nerves and cerebral arteries were intact. Fears of slow-virus contamination and legislative changes are precluding the use of brains obtained in the necropsy room for neuroanatomy teaching, so it is paramount that complete brains are removed from dissecting room cadavers. The method described herein takes a little longer than the traditional method, but is within the capability of an anatomy technician and yields better specimens for use in teaching and examinations.

The histology of regenerated ectopically implanted spleen (splenotic tissue) from splenectomized rats was compared with that of normal rat spleen. Computer-assisted morphometric analysis revealed significant decreases in both the number and area of splenic nodules in splenotic tissue when compared with normal spleen. It is suggested that the reduction in the amount of white pulp present could explain at least in part the reduced ability of splenotic tissue to deal with infection.

The valve of the coronary sinus was studied in 50 hearts from dissection room cadavers. It varied from a flap that covered up to 70% of the ostium of the coronary sinus, to a few small strands of tissue. In 3 cases no valve was present. In most cases (35 out of 50), the valve covered 4 0 % of the ostium of the coronary sinus, so it is unlikely to play an important role in preventing reflux into the coronary sinus. Microscopically, the valve was found to contain layers of myocardium, most of which disappeared in the less well formed valves, but some myocardium was persistent even in the most rudimentary valves studied.