AIM:A morphometric study of the glenoid cavity of 80 adult dry human scapulae in North Indian Population was done to evaluate the various parameters of the glenoid cavity. MATERIAL AND METHODS:This study was done on 80 dry, unpaired adult human scapulae (41 right & 39 left) of unknown sex belonging to the North Indian population. Maximum superior-inferior diameter and Maximum anterior-posterior diameter of the glenoid cavity were measured and Glenoid cavity index was calculated. The shape of the glenoid cavity was classified as inverted comma shaped, pear shaped and oval shaped depending upon the presence or absence of a notch on the glenoid rim. RESULTS: The average superior-inferior diameter on right and the left sides were 34.13±3.16 mm and 34.11± 2.57 mm respectively. The average anterior-posterior diameter of the right glenoid was 24.05± 2.86 mm and that of the left was 23.36 ± 2.22 mm. The average glenoid cavity index on the right was 70.37 ± 4.08 and that of left was 68.59 ± 4.36. All values were compared with series of other workers to draw the conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: All the parameters showed a greater value for the right side. The difference seen between the values of present study and that of other workers could be explained on the basis of ethnic and racial variations. This fact may be taken into consideration while performing shoulder arthroplasty and designing glenoid prostheses in North Indian population. The current study recorded 80% of glenoid cavities having the glenoid notch, which could be useful while diagnosing different pathologies of the shoulder joint. Thus a sound knowledge of various parameters of the glenoid cavity is important for the anatomists, anthropologists, orthopaedicians and prosthetists. KEYWORDS: Glenoid cavity, Scapula, Glenohumeral joint, Morphometry. INTRODUCTION:The scapula is a large, flat, triangular bone which lies on the posterolateral aspect of the chest wall, covering parts of second to seventh ribs. Its lateral angle, truncated and broad, bears the glenoid cavity which articulates with the head of the humerus at the glenohumeral joint and may be regarded as the head of the scapula. 1 The morphology of the glenoid cavity is highly variable. The glenoid rim presents a notch in its upper and front part. 2 Due to presence of this glenoid notch, various shapes of glenoid cavity are found like pear-shaped, oval or inverted comma shaped. 3,4 The disproportionate sizes of the head of the humerus and the small, shallow glenoid cavity combined with a lax articular capsule give this joint a wide range of movements but make the joint inherently unstable. 5 The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body.Dynamic factors of the rotator cuff muscles and the static factors of the gleno-humeral ligaments, the labrum and the joint capsule play a role in glenohumeral joint stability. Alignment of the humerus and the glenoid articular surfaces is one of the predisposing factors for glenohumeral joint instability which is one of the predisposing fa...

The variations in the distribution pattern of superior thyroid artery are of great importance for head and neck surgeons because of its vital relationship to the external laryngeal nerve. In this case an unusual unilateral variation in the arterial supply of thyroid gland was found during routine dissection of an elderly male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab. The left superior thyroid artery took origin from the anterior aspect of left common carotid artery and it exhibited a usual relationship with the left external laryngeal nerve. The inferior thyroid arteries did not show any unusual distribution. Knowledge of such arterial variations related to the thyroid gland is immensely helpful for surgeons in order to put ligature on anomalous artery and to avoid damage to vital structures in this area. It is also helpful to the radiologists in interpreting the angiograms.

Background:The acromion process along with the coracoid process and the coracoacromial ligament form the coracoacromial arch which acts as a secondary socket for the shoulder joint. The subacromial space gives passage to the tendons of muscles forming the rotator cuff. Any abnormality, acquired or congenital, which leads to the reduction in the subacromial space can cause impingement syndrome. Morphology of the acromion thus plays an important role in impingement syndrome and the pathogenesis of rotator cuff diseases. Subjects and Methods: A total of 70 Indian unpaired dry human scapulae (Right-35, Left-35) of unknown sex were studied. Various parameters related to acromion process-a) Maximum length of acromion b) Maximum breadth of acromion c) Acromio-Glenoid distance and e) Acromio-Coracoid distance were measured with the help of a sliding digital vernier caliper and recorded in millimeters. Results: The mean values of each measurement were: maximum length of acromion: 43.10mm; maximum breadth acromion: 24.46mm; acromio-glenoid distance: 30.15 mm and acromiocoracoid distance: 37.05 mm. Conclusion: Knowledge of the morphometeric values of acromian process is important to the orthopaedicians in the differential diagnosis and surgical treatment of shoulder joint ailments, to the forensic experts in specimen identification from skeleton remains and to the anthropologists in their racial and population studies.

AIM:A morphometric study of acetabulum of 50 dry human hip bones in Ludhiana, Punjab was done to evaluate the various parameters of acetabulum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 human adult unpaired dry hip bones (25 right and 25 left) of unknown sex were collected in the Department of Anatomy, Dyanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab to analyze and evaluate the depth, diameter and capacity of acetabulum. RESULTS: The raw data obtained was statistically analyzed. Range, mean, standard deviation and standard error of mean were determined for each parameter. All values were compared with series of other workers to draw the conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: All the parameters showed a greater value for the right side. The capacity of acetabulum showed dependence on its diameter. With an increase in diameter there was an increase in capacity of the acetabulum. A sound knowledge of various parameters of the acetabulum is important for the forensic experts, anthropologists and anatomists.

Objectives: The present study aimed to record the femoral-neck shaft angle was carried out which would be of help to the orthopedicians while carrying out surgical repairs around the hip joint especially in fracture of the neck of femur. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 North Indian unpaired dry adult human femora (Right-50, Left-50) of unknown sex were studied. Neck-shaft angle (NSA) of the femur was measured with the help of goniometer and measurements were recorded in degrees. The raw data obtained were statistically analyzed. Range, mean, standard deviation, and standard error of mean were determined. Results: The mean NSA was found to be 127.63°+3.48° (Right=127.80°+3.56° and Left=127.46°+3.42°) with a range of 122°–137° (Right=122°–137° and Left=122°–136°). No significant difference in values of neck-shaft angle was found in the right and left femora. Conclusion: The overall goal of this study was to generate information that would be useful for geometric modeling of femora and collecting data which could prove useful for the development of prosthetic implants