The palmaris longus is harvested as a tendon graft in various surgical procedures. We herein report the variations in the insertion of the palmaris longus tendon. During a routine dissection, a rare variation in the insertion of the palmaris longus tendon was observed. In the left forearm, the palmaris longus tendon bifurcated, while in the right forearm, the palmaris longus tendon trifurcated, giving rise to an accessory muscle, which passed superficial to the ulnar artery and ulnar nerve. The accessory muscle was supplied by a deep branch of the ulnar nerve, and the ulnar artery was observed to be tortuous. During reconstructive surgeries, surgeons should bear in mind the accessory muscle. Also, since the palmaris longus muscle provides a very useful graft in tendon surgery, every surgeon should be aware of the variations in the insertion of the palmaris longus tendon.

Background and Objectives The foramen magnum as a transition area between skull and spine plays an important role as a landmark, because of its close relationship to vital structures such as the brain and spinal cord. Configuration and size of the foramen magnum play an important role for assessing craniovertebral relations. The objectives of the present study are to find out shape and dimensions of foramen magnum in cranial CT scans. All the variables were evaluated by using discriminant function analysis. Materials and Methods The study sample comprised 200 CT scans (110 males and 90 females) of south Indian origin. The shapes of the foramen magnum were classified into 8 types: oval, egg, round, tetragonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, irregular (A), and irregular (B). The parameters were noted meticulously and the statistical analysis for sex comparison was made by Student's t-test and was considered significant whenever P≤0.05. To determine the relationships between the studied parameters, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated. Results The foramen magnum was classified into 8 types based on shape. Commonest was oval and pentagonal was the least common type. The anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, circumference, and area were significantly greater in males than in females (P<0.001). The mean FM index of male CT scans was 85.01 ± 8.67, whereas in case of female CT scans, it was 83.17 ± 7.78. With all the variables in consideration, overall 65% of cranial CT scans were sexed correctly by using multivariate analysis. Conclusion Several anatomic parameters such as shape and dimensions of FM should be taken into consideration during surgery involving the craniovertebral junction. Also these can be used during forensic and anthropological investigation of unknown individuals for determining gender, ethnicity, and so on. The multivariate analysis is by far the best method for determination of sex of cranium with available resources.

Putamen volume is seen to alter in neurological and psychiatric disorders like Parkinson's disease, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and in individuals treated with antipsychotics. To establish a trend in volume changes in pathologic states, studies on factors influencing normal variation in a given population become essential. This study aimed to evaluate the normal variations in putamen volume in the Indian population and correlate them with the effects of age and sex. Bilateral symmetry was also evaluated. The study included MR images of 98 individuals aged 10-87 years. Axial sections of T2-weighted spin echo sequences were used to estimate putamen volume. The putamen was delineated manually and its volume was estimated using Cavalieri's principle. Linear regression and paired t-test were used to analyze data. Bilateral putamen volume reduced with age in both sexes. This was statistically significant (P < 0.05) except for the left putamen volume in males. There was no significant age-adjusted effect of sex on putamen volume in both hemispheres (P > 0.05). Age and sex interaction was not found to be statistically significant. Hemispherical asymmetry was not established as the difference between the right and left putamen volume did not reach statistical significance in both males and females (P > 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated an age related decline in the volumes of both putamen in males and females. The rate of volume reduction was not affected by sex. The study failed to establish a significant sex difference and hemispherical asymmetry in putamen volume. Clin. Anat. 30:461-466, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Background : Gantzer muscle is the name given to the additional head of Flexor Digitorum Profudus (FDP) or Flexor Pollicis Longus (FPL). It connects the superficial flexors and deep flexors of forearm. It sometimes may be related to Anterior Interosseous Nerve (AIN) and Ulnar artery causing Compressive Neuropathy or Vascular symptoms. Aim: To assess incidence of Gantzer muscle in South Indian population, its morphology and clinical significance. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 50 upper limbs dissected by first year M.B.B.S students. Results : Nine upper limbs showed the presence of Gantzer muscle, three belonged to the right and six belonged to the left. Observations : Additional heads were associated as follows: From FDP-2 and from FPL-7. Innervation was either from Median nerve, Anterior Interosseous nerve or Ulnar nerve. Superficially median nerve was related, deep relations were Ulnar artery and Anterior Interosseous nerve. In one case, Median nerve and artery were related superficially. Conclusion: Gantzer muscle is important clinically as a cause of vascular or nerve compression.