The aim of this study was to investigate and correlate the anatomical parameters of the superior laryngeal artery (SLA). For the study, 50 adult, human specimens were used; laryngeal pieces were drawn from 16 cadavers and the arteries were dissected intralaryngeally. In 68%, the SLA originated from the superior thyroid artery and in 32%, directly from the external carotid artery. In five sides, an aberrant superior laryngeal artery (ASLA) was entering the larynx through a foramen thyroideum. The normal superior laryngeal artery (NSLA) had a short extralaryngeal part and continued intralaryngeally, with two segments and a point of inflexion; the first segment ran along the superior border of the thyroid cartilage, the point of inflexion of the NSLA was at a minimal distance of 1.1 cm anterior to the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage and from this point the NSLA continued in the paraglottic space. The ASLA had a constant origin from the superior thyroid artery; it then traversed the foramen thyroideum and reached the paraglottic space-at the superior border of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, it ended in two terminal branches. We constantly evidenced the following collateral branches of the NSLA: superior, anterior and postero-medial. The terminal branches are the antero-inferior branches that constantly anastomose with the cricothyroid artery and the postero-inferior branch anastomosed with the inferior laryngeal artery. Occasionally, additional branches of the NSLA were found. In conclusion, the intralaryngeal branching patterns of the NSLA and the ASLA are similar, the differences being given by the entry point into the larynx that will make the superior and anterior branches of the ASLA longer, will eliminate the transversal segment of the NSLA, and will shorten the descending segment in the paraglottic space in the case of ASLA. The base of the upper horn of the thyroid cartilage, the oblique line and its tubercles, the cricothyroid membrane and the cricothyroid joint are constant landmarks that allow a precise intralaryngeal identification of the SLA. These findings can improve performances during surgical manipulations of the larynx and laryngeal transplants.

No abstract

Background: The mental foramen (MnF) is the anatomic landmark where the mental neurovascular bundle exits the mandible. Precisely determining the position of the MnF is necessary before all dentoalveolar therapeutic procedures performed in the mandibular premolar area. Materials and Methods: For the study, we performed two ex vivo direct morphometric determinations on dry human dentate and edentate mandibles, and two in vivo imaging morphometric determinations through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and orthopantomography (OPG) in dentate human patients. The following landmarks were used to locate the MnF: the distance between the MnF and the superior border of the mandible (MnF-SB), the distance between the MnF and the inferior border of the mandible (MnF-IB), and the position of the MnF in relation to the root apices of the posterior teeth. The results obtained from these data were processed statistically using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: By direct morphometry on dentate mandibles, the MnF was situated closer to the IB and by direct morphometry on completely edentulous mandibles, the MnF was located closer to the SB. In both direct morphometry studies, the MnF transverse diameter was larger than the vertical one, with the MnF having an oval shape. ANOVA for both direct morphometry studies showed that the distances MnF-IB and MnF-SB significantly vary statistically with interactions and depending on age (p<0.00001). The vertical diameter of the MnF significantly varies statistically depending on age, interactions and between studies, and its transverse diameter varies statistically significantly with interactions and depending on age (p<0.00001). According to OPG and CBCT imaging studies, the MnF was located closer to the IB, and the transverse diameter of the MnF was larger than the vertical diameter; such results are similar to the direct morphometry study performed on dry dentate human mandibles. Regarding the position of the MnF in relation to the root apices, it was most frequently located inferior to the root apices in 79.45% of cases, in 19.23% of cases it was located at the root apices level and in 1.31% of cases it was located superior (coronal) to the root apices. ANOVA for both imaging morphometry studies showed that the MnF-IB distance varies statistically significantly with the interactions, the study, the sex of the patients and their age, the MnF-SB distance varies statistically significantly with the interactions, the study and the patients' age (p<0.05), and the MnF diameters vary statistically significantly with interactions and patient age (p<0.05). Conclusions:The results of this study can help dental practitioners in improving dentoalveolar surgery procedures in the posterior mandible.

Oral rehabilitation by dental implants is a routine treatment in the common dental practice, and volume reconstruction in cases of advanced alveolar ridge atrophy using bone autografts has become a frequently used therapeutic procedure. The study presents a histological evaluation of autogenous mandibular bone grafts integration in surgically created maxillary bone defects. Seven domestic adult dogs, Canis Familiaris were used in the study. Work methodology was established through maxillary and mandibular morphometry, the donor region being the posterior mandibular body, and the recipient region being the lateral body of the maxilla. In the experimental study, we simulated two bilateral maxillary bone defects, which were augmented with mandibular corticocancellous bone grafts. Biological samples containing the target areas were collected 90-100 days after grafting and the subsequent preparation method of the samples for histological analysis was the standard one.The histological results showed the successful integration and the beneficial effect of corticocancellous autogenous mandibular bone grafts applied in maxillary sites.

Alveolar ridge augmentation with autogenous bone grafts is a frequent procedure used in Implant Dentistry. This paper presents an immunohistochemical assessment of the integration of mandibular autografts, applied in maxillary bone defects. Seven adult dogs were used in the study. The work methodology was established through maxillary and mandibular morphometry. The posterior mandibular body was considered the donor region and the lateral region of the maxilla the recipient area. Bilateral maxillary bone defects were performed on the predetermined receiving sites, which were later augmented with mandibular grafts. Fragments of hard tissue from the grafted sites were harvested 90-100 days after the surgical interventions and immunohistochemically evaluated. The immunohistochemical study proved the existence of bone regeneration in the case of mandibular corticocancellous autografts applied at the maxillary level, being an efficient procedure for assessing their integration.