The superior cerebellar artery usually arises from the terminal end of the basilar artery. It may also originate from the posterior cerebral artery and or from a common trunk with the posterior cerebral artery. The anatomical variations of superior cerebellar artery show ethnic differences, but there are few reports on African populations in particular none from Zambia. Variations of the superior cerebellar artery might cause compression symptoms of cranial nerves III, IV and V. Furthermore, the presence of such variations has been considered to be a factor in the aetiology of  aneurysms and thrombus formation leading to cerebellar infarcts. The objectives of the study were to explore anatomical variations on the origin of the superior cerebellar artery; to measure the outer diameter at its origin and the length of superior cerebellar artery to its first bifurcation; to establish the presence of duplication , triplication , hypoplasia , agenesis , fenestration and any other anomalies that were detectable. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 46 post-mortem human cadaveric brains were systematically sampled. A total of 113 superior cerebellar arteries were identified in 42 male and four female cadavers of age ranging between 18 and 65 years (mean 34.05±9.237mm). Superior cerebellar artery arose from the basilar artery as a single vessel in 49.5%, the common trunk arose in 6.2% and posterior cerebral artery origin was seen in 5.7%. Overall duplication of the superior cerebellar artery was seen in 35.5% and triplication in 5.3%. Nineteen (16.8%) of the superior cerebellar arteries were hypoplastic (less than 1mm) and ninety-four (83.2%) were normal. The diameter of the superior cerebellar artery at its origin ranged 0.25mm to 2.48mm (mean 1.42±0.54mm). The length of the superior cerebellar artery to its first bifurcation ranged from 3.77mm to 33.53mm (mean 21.92±7.40mm). Statistically, gender had no significant association of superior cerebellar artery variations (p>0.05). This knowledge will improvediagnosis and management of patients with vascular disorders of the posterior circulation. The newly identified patterns could be a contribution to the SCA classification system. Key words: Superior cerebellar artery, duplication, triplication and hypoplasia

Formalin embalming method is cheaper and commonly used. Thiel method is said to be complex, expensive, not commonly used but offers better cadavers for student teaching. The study aimed at exploring the effects of two embalming methods; modified Thiel and formalin methods on cadavers in terms of muscle softness, joint flexibility, tissue colour, formalin smell and the ease with which structures can be identified. This was an experimental study design done over the period of three months where four adult male cadavers were embalmed (two under each method) and the outcome was compared. Using gravity about Ten Litres of arterial and five Litres venous Thiel fluids was slowly infused into each Thiel cadaver through the carotid artery and femoral vein respectively and cadavers remained overnight. Thiel cadavers were submerged in the tank containing about 300L of Thiel fluid, covered with a blanket and left for eight weeks. Each formalin cadaver was infused with about 15Litres of 10% formalin using the carotid artery and then wrapped in transparent plastics. Thereafter, cadavers were codified and placed in different rooms where participants examined and dissected some regions starting with Thiel cadavers and crossing over to the formalin cadavers after twenty-four hours. Thiel cadavers were softer than formalin (mean = 4.89 ± 0.53 Thiel and 2.1 ± 1.26 for formalin). For joint flexibility, at least 75% of participants strongly agreed for Thiel and at least 75% of the participants strongly disagreed for formalin (mean = 4.81 ± 0.86 Thiel and 1.71 ± 1.13 formalin). Tissue colour was closer to natural in Thiel compared to the formalin cadavers (mean = 4.82 ± 0.55 Thiel and 1.77 ± 1.07 formalin). There were no complaints due to irritant formalin smell in Thiel cadavers as opposed to the formalin ones (mean = 1.15 ± 0.55 Thiel and 4.56 ± 1.15 formalin). At least 75% agreed that it was easy to identify structures in the Thiel cadavers than formalin (mean = 4.67 ± 0.61 and 2.61 ± 1.14 formalin). Thiel embalming method offers good quality cadavers that are soft, flexible; tissue colour closer to natural state and without is strong formalin smell and structures can easily be identified. Key words: Cadaveric embalming, modified Thiel, formalin methods