The distributing artery of the conducting system of the heart is occasionally injured in cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to define the anatomic characteristics of the principal arterial source of the sinu-atrial node and atrioventricular node. Furthermore, the morphology of the tendon of Todaro was clarified. Thirty hearts were studied by gross anatomic methods, and the exact area of the conducting system was supported by histologic observations of four hearts. The sinu-atrial node was supplied by the right coronary artery more frequently (73% of cases) than by the left (3%), and in 23% of cases this node was supplied by both coronary arteries. The atrioventricular node was supplied by the right coronary artery (80% of cases) more than by the left (10%), and in 10% of the cases this node was supplied by both coronary arteries. The atrioventricular bundle branch arose from the right coronary artery in 10% of cases, the left coronary artery in 73%, and both coronary arteries in 17%. Most of the blood to the right bundle (the moderator band) was supplied by the interventricular septal branches of the anterior interventricular branch from the left coronary artery. Finally, all the arteries of the right bundle and left bundle were defined to be derived from left coronary arteries.

One-sided extended analgesia (sensory loss) follows the paravertebral injection of lidocaine. A large ipsilateral sympathetic block is observed without change in pulse rate and with no hypotension. These are all characteristics of an optimal regional block.

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The distally based sural flap was useful for reconstruction of the distal third portion of the lower leg. Moreover, these clinical and anatomic findings suggest that the sural nerve can be preserved to prevent surgically induced paresthesia.

This study identified the anatomical and close functional relationship between the transverse lingual and superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. Two en bloc samples (including the tongue and mid-pharyngeal wall) and four whole tongues were obtained from adult human cadavers. We found that fibers of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle connected with fibers of the transverse lingual muscle, forming a ring of muscle at the base of the tongue. The average diameters of the transverse muscle fibers increased in size gradually as they approached the base of the tongue. Distribution of the muscle spindles in the transverse lingual muscle and the genioglossus muscle also increased as they reached posteriorly near the base of the tongue. These findings suggest that a ring of muscle formed by the postero-inferior portion of the transverse lingual muscle and the superior pharyngeal constrictor may be largely responsible for the retrusive movement of the tongue and the constrictive movement of the pharyngeal cavity as an antagonist of the genioglossus muscle.