Dissectible Me 5 minute anatomy

The pancreas is an organ that most people know about because of its job in producing insulin and managing blood sugar levels. When this doesn't work correctly diabetes develops. It has other endocrine roles and exocrine jobs too, in digestion. Let's talk about where it is in the body and some of the details of the anatomy of this vital organ in 5 minutesish.

The pelvis has two halves (left and right) but each half is also made up of three bones. Let's look at the anatomy of the ilium, ischium and pubis bones and how they link to the back and lower limb.

The nuchal ligament is in the back of your neck and you can feel it when you flex your neck forwards. What does it do and where does it come from?

The pudendal nerve is responsible for sensation from the external genitalia and the perineum, and for motor innervation of the muscles here including the urethral and anal sphincters. It comes from the sacral plexus, so how does it get to the perineum?

In this episode, let’s use the common complaint of elbow pain as a vector to explore the anatomy around the elbow. Terms covered this week: medial & lateral epicondyle. Pronation & supination. Medial epicondylitis aka golfer’s elbow.  Lateral epicondylitis aka tennis elbow. Flexor muscles, specifically flexor digitorum muscles (superficialis & profundus), flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor c...

Let’s discuss the clear transparent tissue that sits anterior to the pupil and iris of your eye. Today we will explore the 5 layers of this tissue and link back to their function. There may be more to this area of anatomy than initially meets the eye……😶 Terms covered this week: the cornea, sclera, and progenitor cells. The 5 layers of the cornea are; the epithelium, the Bowmen’s layer (aka the an...

The anatomy of venous drainage of the thoracic wall. What is the azygos venous system? Where is it found? Why is it important & interesting? Terms covered this week: azygos, hemiazygos & accessory hemiazygos veins.

We are back! Pun intended. In this episode, Sam will discuss the very important structure that exists between the vertebrae of your spine. The fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disk. This mobile, compressible, and stabilising tissue is integral for a happy healthy spine. Terms covered this week: The annulus fibrosus & the nucleus pulposus. Type I & type II collagen. Vertebral endplate &amp...

An anatomist’s ramblings on the optic nerve, colour vision & visual decussation. Terms covered this week: The retina & its rod and cone cells. The optic nerve, optic chiasm & optic tract. Trichromats, dichromats, tetrachromats & achromatopsia.

Let’s discuss the sheets of connective tissue in the abdominal cavity, aka the peritoneum. Let’s explore how the folds of this membrane are called different things depending on how many folds there are, & how these folds form spaces……that us anatomists also name. In addition to the terminology, let's discuss the functions & clinical relevance of all these membranes, to justify knowing them...

In this episode lend me your ears, to understand your eyes. Let’s cover some basic ophthalmic anatomy in a whistle-stop tour of the anatomy of the eye. Terms covered this week include the cornea, conjunctiva & sclera.  The iris, pupil, ciliary muscles, suspensory ligaments & the lens. The retina including its rod and cone cells. Finally, the aqueous and vitreous humours fill in the gaps. 

Following the Meninges podcast, this soundbite is dedicated to the anatomy of bleeds inside the skull.  Terms covered this week include the cerebral arteries & subarachnoid haemorrhages. Cerebral bridging veins & subdural haemorrhages. Meningeal arteries & extra/epidural haemorrhages.   

In this episode, we discuss the three connective tissue layers that surround the brain & spinal cord.  Terms covered this week are the dura mater, the arachnoid mater & pia mater. The leptomeninges & subarachnoid space. We also discuss meningitis.

Muscles & movements of the hip joint in 5 minutes or less! This is a challenge, but here we aim to provide a broad overview of the hip muscles, the movements of these muscles & their innervation. Terms covered this week: The movements of the hip, flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and internal & external rotation. The muscles of the hip: iliacus, psoas major & rectus femoris. Sartorius & pe...

Completing our hernia series, in this episode Sam covers the anatomy of a hiatus hernia. What is it, how does it occur, what are its consequences and how do you treat them?  Terms covered this week are hiatus hernias (and their types). The oesophageal hiatus of the diaphragm, the oesophageal smooth and striated muscles. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD).   

In this episode let's prise out the anatomy of femoral hernias. What are they, where are they, and how do they differ from last week's topic of inguinal hernias?  The main terms covered this week are femoral hernias and the femoral canal. The femoral arteries, nerves & veins. The fascia lata of the lower limb and its saphenous opening. 

This week let's explore the muscular canal found in the anterior wall of the lower abdomen, the inguinal canal. During our exploration let's apply this anatomy to a common medical condition, inguinal hernias. How do inguinal hernias occur & what is the difference between a direct & an indirect hernia?  This week's terms are the anterolateral abdominal muscles (external & internal obliq...

This week let's re-enter the nasal cavity & focus our attention on its blood supply. Why does the nose have such a significant blood supply? What vessels contribute to it? And what happens when it breaks?  The terms covered this week are Little's area or Kiesselbach's plexus & Woodruff's plexus. The blood vessels with the mnemonic L.E.G.S, Labial (Superior), Ethmoids (anterior & posterior), Greate...

This week we explore the primary muscle of respiration that separates the thoracic & abdominal cavities. A muscle that was historically thought of as being the seat of the soul. In this podcast, we will dissect out the diaphragm's form, function, innervation, & blood supply. Whilst also explaining the origin of some of the terms we use to describe diaphragm-related structures. The terms mentioned...

In this 5-minute soundbite, we will cover the very basics of the tube that connects your nose, mouth and aerodigestive tracts. Location, subparts, composition, function and dysfunction. We will also cover sensory and motor innervation.  Terms covered this week; The pharynx and its subparts. Nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx (or hypopharynx). The constrictor muscles and mucosa. The vagus a...

This week we cover the nerves of the hand. The major motor components & the sensory distribution of each of the nerves that meander into the distal extremity of the upper limb.  Terms covered in this episode are the median, radial & ulnar nerves. The flexor retinaculum. The thenar eminence & the lumbricals. 

Adorning the top of your spine are two unique vertebrae. Arguably the most important of the lot. Your Atlas & Axis or C1 & C2. In this episode, we explore greek inspired etymology, vertebral osteology & investigate why exactly cervical spinal injuries are so dangerous. By the end of this episode, you should be able to look through the 33 spinal bones all jumbled up & easily pick these two from the...

A fascinating topic this week, the pineal gland. The neuroendocrine structure that releases melatonin and helps regulate sleep cycles. Also, a structure that throughout history people have tried to assign all sorts of unusual functions. Join us this week as we try to unravel fact from fiction whilst covering location, function, and a smidge of clinical relevance. Terms covered this week are the pi...

In this episode let’s take a glance at some of the trickiest bones to identify, the bones of the carpus or wrist. More commonly known as the carpal bones. Terms covered this week. The wrist movements of flexion, extension, ulnar & radial deviation. The carpal bones; trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate, pisiform, triquetrum, lunate & scaphoid. The anatomical snuff box & avascular necrosis.

When it comes to the heart and its blood supply the coronary arteries take most of the limelight. But where does the deoxygenated blood go after supplying the muscle of the heart? How does it return to the circulatory system? In short, it travels through the cardiac veins our focus for this week's podcast. Names, locations and their anatomy.  Terms covered this week; The great, the middle and the...