In this report we present two cases of rhomboid muscle variations observed during routine anatomical dissections. In the first case, on the left side of an adult male cadaver, a long and slender aberrant muscle was identified starting from the lateral part of the superior nuchal line and inserting to the scapula between the rhomboid minor and levator scapulae. The muscle was identified as the rare rhomboid capitis. In the second case, in an adult female cadaver, a bilateral variation in the origin of the rhomboid major fibers was described. On the left side, the rhomboid major fibers started from spinous processes of C1-C6, while on the right side it was narrower and originating from spinous processes of C1-C3. Reviewing the literature about the rhomboid muscles variations, we conclude that one and the same aberrant structure might be named differently. We also discuss the presentation of the known variations of the rhomboids in a common scheme instead of classification.

In the case reported, an interesting variation of the left digastric muscle of an adult female cadaver was found during routine anatomical dissection of the anterior neck region. Additionally to the usual anterior and posterior bellies, there was a well-developed aberrant muscular slip starting from the digastric anterior belly and inserting to the inner surface of the mandibular angle in a manner nearly parallel to the posterior belly. This additional slip, together with the anterior belly and mandibular base enclosed a small but false submandibular triangle. The submandibular gland was displaced slightly posteriorly with the submandibular duct passing between the aberrant slip and the usual posterior belly.The reported muscle variation may have importance in open surgical procedures in the neck region. Our case report provides an additional understanding of digastric muscle variations and their clinical significance.

The complexity of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), its function, sex difference, cytoand chemoarchitectonic structure has intrigued scientists during the last decades. As part of the extended amygdala, it is involved in many limbic functions being the main target of treating anxiety and addiction as lately revealed. This paper is a brief review of the BNST structure and also a morphometric study of its subnuclear groups in the adult male rat brain. The Kluver-Barrera staining revealed the main white matter tracts which serve us for landmarks to identify the BNST subdivisions. The majority of BNST neurons were small in size, less than 15µm in diameter, oval in shape and with prominent nucleoli. The present results clearly show the complexity in the BNST structural organization to better understand its function, and to emphasize it as a novel research area of the functional morphology.