The vallate papillae, commonly referred to as circumvallate papillae, are lingual papillae located at the posterior dorsum of the tongue, which form a V‐shaped row immediately anterior to the sulcus terminalis. As the name suggests, vallate papillae are normally surrounded by a vallum, a small mound of tissues, which creates a sulcus (or trench) around the papilla. The inner surface of the vallum houses approximately half of the taste buds located within the tongue. Therefore, vallate papillae are important anatomical structures in gustation; however, little data exists regarding the gross morphology of the vallate papillae. In this study, 103 human cadaveric tongues were dissected at West Virginia University, with approval of the West Virginia Anatomical Board, to identify and photograph individual vallate papillae. A total of 1,069 individual vallate papillae were identified and characterized into thirteen separate categories, based upon their morphology and associated anatomical features. Categorization was largely based upon the presence of a vallum (691 of 1069; 64.6%), and whether the vallum fully encompassed the papilla or partly encompassed the papilla. Other categorization included whether the papilla itself was fully formed or segmented. The results of this study demonstrate a wide variety of morphological categories of vallate papillae. Because vallate papillae are important in gustation, the anatomical differences may partly explain physiological differences in taste function.Support or Funding InformationResearch by Holmes JS and Rickards AA funded by the WVU Initiation to Research Opportunities (INTRO) Summer Research program. Research by Russell ML, Bliss KN, Lynch HL, and Ganoe MR funded by WV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13].

The mandibular (glenoid) fossa is of particular importance with regard to the biomechanics of the temporomandibular joint. In particular, the anterior aspect of the mandibular fossa, formed by the articular eminence, influences mandibular depression and protrusion. Accordingly, the mandibular fossa and articular eminence are common structures to undergo surgical alteration (e.g. eminectomy). Therefore, this study analyzed the contour of the mandibular fossa in the sagittal plane to improve the understanding of how the native shape of the mandibular fossa may be implicated in the biomechanics of the temporomandibular joint. The study assessed a total of 39 mandibular fossae via three‐dimensional models of human crania. The three‐dimensional crania models were manipulated such that the model could be split in the sagittal plane in the center of the mandibular fossa. Two‐dimensional renderings of the sagittal planes bifurcating the mandibular fossae were then utilized to perform geometric morphometric analysis utilizing 15 sliding landmarks spanning from the post‐glenoid tubercle to the apex of the articular eminence. Procrustes superimposition revealed a mean contour that when interpolated is given by the equation y ≈ 12.973x6 − 7.2434x5 − 10.861x4 + 4.2187x3 + 3.2365x2 − 0.3056x − 0.1303. Principle component analysis demonstrates 84.90% of the shape variance within two principle components (PC1=70.56% of variance; PC2=14.34% of variance). Also, the left‐ and right‐sided contours did not differ significantly (Mahalanobis distance=2.305; T2=54.2889; p=0.8042). The information presented here provides insight with regard to the average contour of the mandibular fossa as well as most likely contour variation. Therefore, this information may be applied in the context of joint biomechanics to better understand the function and limitations of the temporomandibular joint.Support or Funding InformationWV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.17.06] and [HEPC.dsr.14.13]This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Infraorbital nerve block injections are performed by either an intraoral approach per the oral vestibule or an extraoral approach through the skin near the infraorbital foramen. Many studies have assessed the location of the IOF relative to bony landmarks, teeth, as well as soft tissue landmarks with mixed results. Few studies have assessed the location of the IOF in three dimensions. This study analyzed the location of the IOF relative to a midpoint between the inferolateral nasal aperture and inferolateral orbital rim via three‐dimensional models rendered from 18 adult crania. The distance from the midpoint to the IOF averaged 4.16±1.43 mm (mean±SD) on the left and 3.93±1.43 mm on the right. Wilcoxon matched‐pairs signed rank tests revealed no significant difference among sides (p=0.325). This report also addresses differences among the x, y, and z axes. These preliminary data demonstrate the utility of three‐dimensional analysis for the assessment of IOF location. Understanding the location of the IOF in three dimensions may aid in determining the best patient‐specific approach for infraorbital nerve block.Support or Funding InformationWV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.17.06] and [HEPC.dsr.14.13]This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Learning anatomical variations of the cranium poses unique difficulties particularly with regard to having physical access to crania with variations, adequate time to appreciate specimens, and an inherent lack of depth perception afforded from textbook images. This report documents the development of a repository of three‐dimensional (3D) scans of crania possessing both common and rare anatomical variations. Examples of such anatomical variations include metopism, plagiocephaly, elongate styloid processes, confluence of the foramen ovale and spinosum, elongate nasal bones, osteoma, clival foramina, mastoidal emissary foramina, and caroticoclinoid foramina. The utility of 3D scans overcomes many barriers to learning cranial variation. For example, by having a digitized model of a cranium, a student can interact with the model in three dimensions outside of a laboratory. It allows for time flexibility as well. Additionally, there are benefits beyond the primary goal of educating the student, which include eliminating concern for damage to crania from mishandling and concerns of theft.Support or Funding InformationWV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.17.06] and [HEPC.dsr.14.13]This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Reconstruction of the face often requires the grafting of costal cartilage. The size of the facial defect determines the size and shape of cartilage needed to be harvested. Because females and males have differing facial size and shape, sex must be taken into consideration with regard to cartilage need. While myriad information exists that describes facial sexual dimorphism, little information exists regarding sexual dimorphism of costal cartilage. Therefore, this study assessed 312 costal cartilages from the most commonly harvested levels (i.e., fifth, sixth, and seventh rib cartilages) from 20 female and 32 male cadaveric ribcages for anatomical comparison. The fifth costal cartilage offers the smallest measurements in terms of area and length (Mean ± SD) for both females (1119 ± 248.8 mm2 and 69.48 ± 10.29 mm) and males (1525 ± 353.1 mm2 and 79.67 ± 14.62 mm). The seventh costal cartilage offers the largest surface area and total length measurements among both sexes (Females: 1836 ± 271.1 mm2 and 123.4 ± 14.62 mm; Males: 2390 ± 409.3 mm2 and 137.5±20.49 mm, respectively). Measurements of male cartilages were consistently larger than those of females in nearly all parameters studied. However, there was no significant difference between the sternum‐to‐curve length of the 5th cartilage (t(50) = 1.579; p = 0.1205) or the rib‐to‐curve length of the 7th cartilage between sexes (t(50) = 0.9609; p = 0.3412). In summary, females can afford, on average, less cartilage to harvest than males. The information provided in this study will aid surgeons in making informed decisions in their pre‐surgical planning of costal cartilage harvesting and grafting.Support or Funding InformationWest Virginia University Initiation to Research Opportunities (WVU – INTRO); WV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.17.06] and [HEPC.dsr.14.13]This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.