BACKGROUND The posterior half of the foot is made of seven tarsal bones. Talus is seen above calcaneus. It has a head, neck and body. There are three facets anterior, middle and posterior facets that articulate with corresponding facets of the calcaneus. The middle and posterior facets are separated by a groove sulcus tali. We wanted to know the morphometric measurements of talus in South Keralites in this study. METHODS The study was done on 68 dry human tali of unknown age and sex in the Department of Anatomy, Government medical college, Trivandrum. The measurements were taken i.e., length, width and height of talus using vernier calipers. The length, width and height of sulcus tali were also measured. The range and mean of measurements were estimated. The calcaneal facets were studied and classified to find the most common and least common types. Data analysis was performed using SPSS ver 16.0. RESULTS The mean anteroposterior length of the talus was 4.84 ± 0.44 cm. The mean transverse length was 3.46 ± 0.47 cm. The mean height of the talus was 2.56 ± 0.31 cm. Anteroposterior length ranged from 3.84 to 6.07. The transverse length of the talus ranged from 2.81- 5 cm. Height of talus ranged from 2 - 3.2 cm. The mean anteroposterior length of sulcus tali was 2.09 ± 0.45 cm. The mean height of sulcus tali was 0.55 ± 0.09 cm. The mean width of sulcus tali was 0.62 ± 0.30 cm. Anteroposterior length of sulcus tali ranged from 1.4 - 3.8 cm. The transverse length of sulcus tali ranged from 0.34 to 1.6 cm. Height of sulcus tali ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 cm, regarding the type of facets, type 2 was most common and type 4 was found to be absent. CONCLUSIONS The adequate knowledge of the anatomy of the talus is significant not only to the anatomists but also to the orthopaedic surgeons as fractures of the talus are quite common and lead to avascular necrosis, arthritis and when unrecognized, chronic pain and non-union 3. Talectomy has been described as a limb-saving procedure for the treatment of neglected talipes equinovarus deformity. KEY WORDS Talus, Sulcus Tali, Calcaneal Facet Morphometric Measurements of Talus in South Keralites.

BACKGROUND Cystic artery originates from right hepatic artery which is a branch of hepatic artery proper of coeliac trunk from abdominal aorta. Variations in the origin and course of cystic artery were observed in this study. Contents of Calot’s triangle were also studied. Knowledge of normal anatomy, variations of the biliary apparatus and the arterial supply to the gallbladder is important for surgeon. METHODS Descriptive cross-sectional study was done from April 2008 to January 2010 in 180 adult specimens and 50 foetal specimens in the Departments of Anatomy, Forensic Medicine and Pathology in Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. The abdominal wall was incised and hepatobiliary region was identified and dissected. The gallbladder and coeliac trunk were identified. Cystic artery and Calot’s triangle were studied. RESULTS More than 90 percent of the cystic artery originates from the right hepatic artery in both sexes. Cystic artery originated from left hepatic artery in 4 cases, common hepatic artery in 5 cases and from middle hepatic artery in 1 case. The cystic artery within Calot’s triangle was observed in 41 %. Right hepatic artery was content in 29.9 %. Both the arteries were content in 19 %. Cystic artery and accessory hepatic duct were content of Calot’s triangle in 2.2 %. Double cystic artery was content of the triangle in 1 cadaver. Artery or duct was seen outside the Calot’s triangle in 16 cadavers. CONCLUSIONS It is important for surgeons to know the variations of cystic artery and Calot’s triangle during surgical interventions of the hepato biliary region. “Cystic artery syndrome” is a condition where cystic artery is seen winding around cystic duct although it originates from right hepatic artery. Knowledge of these variations is important for surgeons and helps in better surgical outcome. KEYWORDS Cystic Artery, Calot’s Triangle, Right Hepatic, Gall Bladder, Coeliac Trunk

BACKGROUNDThe study of angle of union of biliary ducts is of great importance to the hepatobiliary surgeons. The union of cystic and common hepatic duct can be angular, spiral or parallel. The site of union can be average, high or low. MATERIALS AND METHODSStudy was conducted on 250 specimens (Cadaveric, Autopsy and Foetal) in Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, for 2 years. Site and type of union was observed. RESULTSType 1 or angular union of ducts was most common. Low union of ducts was seen in majority. CONCLUSIONKnowledge of anatomy of biliary ducts is important for hepatobiliary surgeons, as the variations are very common and can cause complications during surgery.