The proposed aim of the study was to elucidate the variations of the lung fissures and to correlate their importance in clinics. The study was conducted on 48 lung specimens, 30 right and 18 left, obtained from the cadavers of South Indian origin. Among the right-sided lungs, 2 specimens showed absence of horizontal fissure, and the remaining 25 showed incomplete horizontal fissure. Oblique fissure was incomplete in 15 lungs and one lung showed absence of oblique fissure. An accessory fissure was observed in 4 lungs. Among the left sided lungs, the oblique fissure was incomplete in 7 lungs. The presence of an accessory fissure was found in 5 lungs. With the development of radiological and endoscopic techniques and the advancement of pulmonary surgery, the knowledge of morphological variations of lung fissures is of utmost importance to clinicians to correctly locate the bronchopulmonary segment during pulmonary lobectomy, and for radiologists to correctly interpret X-rays and CT scans.

The axillary arch can be described as an anomalous muscular slip of latissimus dorsi muscle. In this paper, a rare case of bilateral axillary arch is reported during routine dissection of the axillary region of a 57-year old male cadaver. On both sides, the axillary arch muscle took origin from latissimus dorsi and teres major, and passed upwards through the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, but posterior to the bulk of axillary neurovascular bundle. It then split into two slips: the medial slip was inserted into the root of the coracoid process, while the lateral slip which was intracapsular, was attached to the lesser tubercle, above the attachment of subscapularis. The presence of the muscle has important clinical implications, and the position, bilateral presence, penetration of the posterior cord, and multiple connective tissue attachments makes the case most unique. The anatomy, surgical implications, and embryology of the anomalous muscle are discussed in this paper.

Objective To observe variations in the fissures, in the lobes, and in the hilar pattern of lungs and correlate these findings with clinical implications. Materials and Methods The present study was performed on random lung specimens available in the Department of Anatomy. A total of 96 lungs (47 right and 49 left) were studied for variations in the fissures and lobes, and 92 lungs (45 right and 47 left) for variations in the hilar pattern. Results Among the right-sided lungs, 70% presented incomplete horizontal fissure, 15% with absence of the horizontal fissure, and 51% with incomplete oblique fissure. Accessory fissures were also seen, but incomplete, and accounted for 17% of the total number of right lungs.Among the left-sided lungs, 62% presented incomplete oblique fissures, and 4% with absence of the oblique fissure. Accessory fissures accounted for 6% of the total number of left lungs.Regarding hilar pattern variations, 11% of the right-sided lungs showed > 2 bronchi, 69% showed > 2 pulmonary veins, and 37% showed > 1 pulmonary artery.Among the left-sided lungs, 57% showed > 1 bronchi, 21% showed > 2 pulmonary veins, and 17% showed > 1 pulmonary artery. Conclusion The field of pulmonary surgery is now highly advanced, with well-developed radiological and endoscopic techniques. Hence, a proper understanding and knowledge of these morphological variations of lung fissures and of the hilar pattern would be advantageous for surgeons, as well as for radiologists.