INTRODUCTION: Internal thoracic artery (ITA) is an established arterial graft for the coronary artery by-pass surgery. Special micro-anatomical features of the ITA wall may protect it from age related pathological changes. One of the complications seen after coronary artery bypass grafting is vasospasm. Sympathetic nerves may be involved in vasospasm. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the sympathetic innervation of the internal thoracic artery and to assess the effect of aging on this artery by histomorphometry. METHOD: Fifty-four human internal thoracic artery samples were collected from 27 cadavers (19 male and 8 female) with ages of 19 to 83 years. Samples were divided into three age groups: G1, 19-40 years; G2, 41-60 years; G3, >61 years. Sections (thickness 5 mm) of each sample were taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Verhoeff-Van Gieson stains. Five of fifty-four samples were processed for tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining. RESULTS: The thickness of the tunica intima was found to be constant in all age groups, whereas the thickness of the tunica media decreased in proportion to age. Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining showed numerous elastic laminae in the tunica media. Significant differences (p<0.0001) in the number of elastic laminae were found between G1 with G2 cadavers, between G2 and G3 cadavers and between G3 and G1 cadavers. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining demonstrated sympathetic fibers, located mainly in the tunica adventitia and the adventitia-media border. The sympathetic nerve fiber area and sympathetic index were found to be 0.0016 mm² and 0.012, respectively. DISCUSSION: Histology of the ITA showed features of the elastic artery. This may be associated with lower incidence of Atherosclerosis or intimal hyperplasia in ITA samples even in elderly cases. Low sympathetic index (0.012) of ITA may be associated with fewer incidences of sympathetic nervous systems problems (vasospasm) of the ITA. CONCLUSION: Sympathetic nerve fibers are present in the adventitia of the internal thoracic artery. This is an elastic artery, although anatomically it is considered to be medium-sized. The sympathetic index may be used for analysis of sympathetic nerve fiber-related problems of the internal thoracic artery

A sesamoid bone is a little bone embedded in a joint capsule or tendon. We observed a very rare sesamoid bone (cyamella) in the popliteus muscle of a 48 - year - old male cadaver. Further, the related literature is reviewed and the probable functions, morphology and clinical significance of the variation are discussed

Un hueso sesamoideo es un pequeño hueso incrustado en una cápsula articular o tendón. Observamos un raro hueso sesamoideo (cyamella) en el músculo poplíteo de un cadáver de un hombre de 48 años de edad. Además, revisamos la literatura relacionada y las funciones probables y se discute su morfología y significación clínica

The gluteal region is an important anatomical and clinical area which contains muscles and vital neurovascular bundles. They are important for their clinical and morphological reasons. In this manuscript we report a rare case of absence of inferior gluteal artery. In the same specimen the superior gluteal artery was taking origin from the anterior division of internal iliac artery. The structures normally supplied by the inferior gluteal artery were supplied by a branch coming from the superior gluteal artery. The developmental and clinical significance of the anatomical variation is discussed

La región glútea es una importante área anatómica y clínica, la cual contiene músculos y vitales elementos neurovasculares. Estos últimos son importantes por razones clínicas y morfológicas. En este trabajo describimos un raro caso de ausencia de la arteria glútea inferior. Encontramos también que la arteria glútea superior tenía su origen en la división anterior de la arteria iliaca interna. Las estructuras irrigadas normalmente por la arteria glútea inferior estaban irrigadas por una rama que se originaba de la arteria glútea superior. Son discutidos el desarrollo y el significado clínico de esta variación anatómica