C. Cem Denk

Double tendons at the distal attachment of the extensor hallucis longus muscle.

Abstract. The distal attachments of the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendons in 47 amputated legs and in eight cadavers were examined. The EHL had two tendons in 34 of the amputated legs and bilaterally in five cadavers. The lateral tendon was inserted to the middle of the dorsal aspect of the base of the distal phalanx of the hallux and the medial tendon to the medial side of the insertion of the lateral tendon. The length and thickness of these two tendons were measured and compared in order to obtain data for using these tendons in tendon repair and hallux varus corrections by autogenous tendon transfer surgery. Additionally, on the right foot of one of the cadavers, it was observed that the extensor hallucis brevis tendon united with the lateral tendon of the EHL. We recommend that foot-ankle surgeons be aware of the various accessory EHL tendons and their potential use in problematic cases.

Arteries of the thumb originating from the superficial palmar arch: five cases

Five cases are described where the first web space of the hand received arteries only from the superficial palmar arch. None of these branches was large enough to deserve the name “princeps pollicis artery”. These variations must be taken into account during surgical dissections of the hand.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE MYELINATED AXONS OF CORPUS CALLOSUM IN PERFUSED YOUNG AND OLD RATS

In this study, the myelinated axons of parts of the corpus callosums of young and old rats were examined under the electron microscope and a grading system was performed for quantiating the ultrastructural pathological changes of these axons. Except the old splenium group, the only ultrastructural pathological change, observed in the myelinated axons was the separation in myelin configuration. In addition to this finding, in the old splenium group, in some of the myelinated axons, an interruption was observed in the myelin configuration. Additionally, these ultrastructural pathological findings were present in the larger sized myelinated axons of the corpus callosum.