Background. As the mental foramen (MF) is an important landmark to facilitate surgical, local anesthetic, and other invasive procedures, the present study was aimed to elucidate its morphological features and morphometric parameters with reference to surrounding landmarks. Material and Method. 105 dry adult human mandibles of unknown sex were observed for position, shape, and number of mental foramina. Their size was measured using a digital vernier caliper and statistically analyzed by mean and standard deviations (SD). Results. In most cases (74.3%), the MF was oval in shape and situated on the longitudinal axis of the 2nd premolar tooth (61% on right side and 59.1% on left side). The mean distance for the right and left sides was measured from various landmarks. Conclusion. Prior knowledge of mental foramen variations helps surgeons in planning surgery in that region to avoid nerve damage and also enable effective mental nerve block anesthesia.

Background: Anatomy Act provides legal ambit to medical educationists for the acquisition of cadavers. The changing medical education scenario, socio-demographic change, and ethical concerns have necessitated an urgent review of its legal and ethical framework. Suitable amendments addressing the current disparities and deficiencies are long overdue. Methods: Anatomy Act in India is a state Act, which ensures the provision of human bodies for medical education and research. The methodology included three components namely: Comparison of various Anatomy Acts clause by clause, Feedback from anatomists, and Formulation of comprehensive model Anatomy Act. Results: Various Acts studied showed discrepancies in the purpose of the Act, roles and duties of stakeholders, regulation for body donation, the procedure to handle unclaimed bodies, disposal of dissected bodies, etc. No Act defines a donor and neither addresses the issue of transport of anatomical material. Only ten states have a clause for body donation. Acts of only six states have been amended over the last 50 years. Three states denied having an Act. The whole exercise of review of Acts, extensive feedback received from end-users, and taking into account global good practices, culminated in drafting a comprehensive model Anatomy Act founded on ethical principles. Conclusion: India, with the largest number of medical colleges, is not only at the forefront but also a hub of medical education in the Southeast Asia region. Legal reform can be a torchbearer to promote ethical and transparent practices for obtaining cadavers for other countries of the region with similar socio-demography and shall also motivate anatomic fraternity across the globe for critical analysis of their respective Anatomy Acts.

During the strengthening and weakening procedures of intraocular muscles, distance of insertion from the sclerocorneal junction is an important determinant in the identification of muscles. During repositioning of the aponeurosis of the muscles, it is desired that the width should not change in order to avoid diversion of forces. Available anatomic studies on insertions of extraocular muscles are few, date back to early twentieth century and have been conducted on mostly white population. The present study is an attempt to document the insertions of recti and oblique muscles in Indian population. Forty eyeballs were removed from orbit. Insertion of recti and obliqui were cleaned and eyeballs were perfused with normal saline to regain the volume (hence shape and size) before recording observations. Insertion of recti and obliqui muscles were observed under various study parameters. The distance of insertion of recti from the limbus were found to be 7.3 mm, 8.06 mm, 8.71 mm, and 8.74 mm for medial, inferior, lateral, and superior rectus, respectively. The superior oblique was aponeurotic and found to be more variable in mode of insertion as compared to inferior oblique which had a fleshy and relatively constant insertion. The observations on insertion of recti and obliqui as obtained in present study differ from earlier studies to the tune of 1-1.5 mm. This may be attributed to adoption of method of reperfusion of eyeball before recording observations thus maintaining size close to in vivo. The observations are expected to be closer to actual.

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