Multiple tendons of the additional belly of flexor pollicis longus in the carpal tunnel: Embryological perspective and their clinical significance

Although the flexor pollicis longus is known to show the additional head of the origin, the occurrence of its additional tendons in the carpal tunnel are seldom reported. The presence of such additional tendons in the carpal tunnel cannot be overlooked during the radiological and surgical procedures in this region. Herein, we report a rare case of additional muscle belly of flexor pollicis longus. The additional muscle belly after a short course divided into three tendons. All three tendons entered the carpal tunnel along with flexor pollicis longus, passing deep to the flexor retinaculum. Within the carpal tunnel, two of these tendons fused and terminated by merging with the undersurface of the flexor retinaculum. The third tendon terminated by joining the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon for the index finger, in the palm. An additional slip of the first lumbrical muscle took origin from the third tendon of the additional muscle belly of flexor pollicis longus. Further, the embryological basis and clinical significance of current case is discussed.

Hypoplastic plexiform right anterior cerebral artery and absence of anterior communicating artery—A case report

Anterior cerebral artery is the smaller terminal branch of the internal carotid artery. It is one of the arteries involved in the formation of the arterial circle of Willis at the base of the brain. Its hypoplasia or absence can cause serious problems during neurosurgery or in the vascular dynamics of the brain. We found a rare variation of the right anterior cerebral artery during the dissection of the brain. The initial segment of the artery was hypoplastic and plexiform. The anterior communicating artery was absent. The right and left anterior cerebral arteries fused with each other for a distance of about 1 cm. The course, size and distribution of the distal part of the right anterior cerebral artery were normal. This case may be of special importance to neurosurgeonsand radiologists. Obstructionor rupture of the left anterior cerebral artery in such cases might result in infarct of the medial surfaces of both cerebral hemispheres.

Unusual communication of profunda femoris vein with the popliteal vein in the middle of the popliteal fossa

Profunda femoris vein (PFV) rarely forms a direct communication with the lower end of the femoral vein (FV) or popliteal vein (PV). During regular dissections for medical undergraduates, we came across a rare anatomical variation of PFV in the right lower limb of an 80-year-old female cadaver. PFV commenced from the PV just above its formation by the union of anterior and posterior tibial veins. It traversed the popliteal fossa on the lateral side of the popliteal artery and entered into the adductor canal after piercing the adductor magnus muscle. Finally, it emptied into the FV in the lower part of the femoral triangle. Furthermore, the PV had a small caliber than that of PFV. Deep veins of leg are the common site for formation of thrombosis. In terms of diagnosis and operative procedures, the location of thrombosis in the deep veins of lower limb is clinically of great importance. Thus detailed knowledge of the anatomical variation reported here is useful during diagnosis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis.

Anomalous origin and vulnerable course of left colic artery in relation to the pancreas—A case report

We report here an anomalous origin and course of left colic artery in relation to pancreas during routine dissection of the abdominal region in a 70-year-old male cadaver in the department of anatomy. The anomalous left colic artery took its origin from the superior mesenteric artery and immediately divided into right and left branches. The right branch passed through the transverse mesocolon to supply the left one third of the transverse colon. The left branch traversed to the left along the inferior border of the body of the pancreas and crossed the left kidney before supplying the left colic flexure of colon and descending colon. This aberrant course of the left branch of the left colic artery can be considered as a “vulnerable” course as it is liable to injury during pancreatic and renal surgeries since the artery is not expected to run along the inferior border of the pancreas. The pancreas, a retroperitoneal organ, is related to major arteries such as abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava, coeliac trunk and its main branches, superior mesenteric vessels, splenic and portal veins. Surgery of the pancreas therefore, not only needs a thorough knowledge of the normal course of branches of these vessels but also demands a good knowledge of possible anomalous vessels arising in this region.