Dissectible Me 5 minute anatomy

This week let's take a first pass at covering some brainstem anatomy. Let's discuss the three subsections, the broad functions these have, and point out some of the fascinating features this vital area of the brain houses. Terms covered this week, The midbrain, the pons and the medulla oblongata. The cerebral and cerebellar peduncles. The corpora quadragemina, which itself is made up of the superi...

Today let’s discuss the membranous layers of tissue that house and protect the heart. What they are, where they are, function, innervation, importance, and a smidge of clinical relevance to finish.   Terms covered this week. Layers of the heart; endocardium, myocardium & epicardium. The two layers of the pericardium; the serous pericardium (itself divided into visceral & parietal) & the fibrous pe...

In this episode let’s take a bite out of some dental anatomy, by covering the basics of the tooth. Let’s uncover some details of the organic living rocks that inhabit our jaws, made up of four tissue types with a rich neurovascular supply. Terms discussed in today’s episode are gingiva, the crown & the root of a tooth. The four tissues are enamel, cementum, dentin & pulp. The gomphosis joint is fo...

The tissue and muscle of the heart need a good blood supply. Enter the coronary arteries. A left and a right but also some other major branches to know about. Terms, or arteries covered this week; The aorta. The right coronary artery & the posterior descending artery (PDA). The left coronary artery, circumflex artery & anterior interventricular artery aka left anterior descending artery (L...

In this episode, we explore the osteology of the shoulder. The bones, joints & mobility vs stability. Terms covered in this episode; The bones of the humerus, clavicle and scapular. The articulations of the glenohumeral joint, the acromioclavicular joint and the sternoclavicular joint. Finally the bony projections of the coracoid process, the acromion and the spine of the scapular. 

A neuroanatomical review of the thalamus. What is it, where is it, what does it do, what happens when it gets damaged, that sort of thing.    

Definitions, locations, anatomical associations, innervations and in fact most of the 'ations' involving the perineum. NB This is NOT to be confused with the term peroneal which is all things related to the fibula and calf of the leg.  Terms covered this week; Perineum, pelvic floor & pelvic diaphragm. Perineal membrane, perineal body & urogenital triangle. Superficial & deep perineal pouches. Pud...

Building on a previous episode that discussed the mandible, in this soundbite we cover the muscles that act upon the lower jaw to chew, the muscles of mastication. Terms covered this week are four muscles: the temporalis, the masseter and the medial & lateral pterygoids. Some bony anatomy in the sphenoid bone, the pterygoid plates, the zygomatic arch and the coronoid process of the mandible. Final...

In this episode, we review the anatomy of the thoracic apertures. What are they, where are they and what are the main structures that pass through their openings? Terms covered this week; superior and inferior thoracic apertures. The thoracic inlet and outlet (confusingly the same thing). Finally the well-documented clinical condition of thoracic outlet syndrome. 

Let's take another look at the pleura in this episode. This time let's focus on the pleural recesses, innervation of the pleura and some clinical relevance.  Terms covered this week; Costal pleura, diaphragmatic pleura & mediastinal pleura. The pleural recess (aka the costophrenic recess) & the costomediastinal recess. The clinically relevant pleural effusion & pleuritic chest pain.      

This episode tackles the beautifully complex area of the inner ear whose function it is to detect motion and facilitate, in part, balance.  Terms covered this week; The bony & membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. The fluids perilymph & endolymph that flood these cavities. The stereocilia, macula, crista, cupula and otoconia that comprise the delicate inner organs of balance. Finally the clinical...

In this episode, we discuss the very thin serous membrane that surrounds the lung and thorax which is absolutely crucial for life.  The terms covered in this episode are visceral and parietal pleura. Pleural space, pneumothorax and haemothorax.  

Today's episode is a follow on from last week in which we explore the compartments and 5 major nerves of the upper limb Terms covered in this episode; Axillary nerve, Radial nerve, Median nerve, Ulnar nerve & Musculocutaneous nerve.

This week Sam fancied a challenge…The question is, do you? In this episode, we untangle the plexus of nerves that innervate the upper limb. Roots, trunks, divisions, cords & then branches, leaving us with the big 5 nerves that are a must-know.   Nerves covered this week; The Axillary, Musculocutaneous, Median, Radial & Ulnar nerves of the upper limb.

Deep within the neck, we find biology’s version of a cable tidy that houses and protects the great vessels of the neck in addition to one of the most critical nerves in the human body. This week let us dissect out some details on this tube-like structure. What exactly is it, where is it and what does it contain? Terms covered this week; Deep neck fascia, the platysma & sternocleidomastoid muscles....

Roll up your sleeves for this one as we explore the peculiar little joint at the elbow. Or rather the 3 joints that live there.  New terms covered this week; Ulnar, radius & humerus. Pronation, supination, olecranon, trochlear, head of the radius & capitulum. Humeroulnar joint, humeroradial joint & the proximal radioulnar joint.  Terms that we absolutely didn't squeeze in the end are; medial and l...

In this episode, we explore the muscles responsible for ventilation or breathing. Those primarily responsible for expanding the thorax and indirectly the lungs and those that can be recruited when forcefully trying to do so. What are they, where are they and how do they work?  Terms covered in this episode; Respiration, ventilation, primary and secondary muscles of respiration. The diaphragm, inte...

Once termed the forgotten sense, olfaction or the sense of smell has seen a rise in interest in recent years due to the COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent increase in hyposmia that the virus has left behind. In today’s episode, we explore the anatomy of the special sense of smell by looking at some of the detail of cranial nerve 1, the olfactory nerve. What is? Where is it? And what happens when...

Today we discuss the anatomy of the knee, the largest joint in the human body. Let’s explore movements, function, bones involved, main ligaments and the menisci. We will also cover one of Sam’s favourite topics, articular cartilage. Terms covered this week; The femur, tibia, fibular and patella bones. Synovial joints, fluid and capsule. The articular and hyaline cartilage and bursae. Cruciate liga...

This week let’s take a gander at the anatomy of the tonsils, specifically those almond-shaped clumps of lymphoid tissue that act as immune cell cark parks for the upper aerodigestive tract. Terms covered this week; Palatine, nasopharyngeal & lingual tonsils. Adenoids, Waldeyer’s ring, Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) & Peyer’s patches. Also covered are Tonsillitis & Tonsillectomy. Two word...

This week, let’s explore the anatomy of taste and the cranial nerves that facilitate this sensation at different parts of the tongue. We compare the special sensation of taste to general sensation and highlight where and how it differs. Terms covered this week are; taste buds, lingual papillae, chorda tympani, lingual nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve and the trigeminal nerve. 

With jokes, puns and anatomical controversy, the spinal accessory nerve is more than just a shoulder shrug. Terms covered this week; spinal accessory nerve, foramen magnum, jugular foramen, sternocleidomastoid & trapezius muscles.

This week let’s look at the muscles of the tongue and the nerve that is responsible for providing motor innervation to (almost) all these muscles. We will explore types of muscle, functions, and the classic exam question of 'what happens when the hypoglossal nerve is damaged'. Terms explored this week; Intrinsic (longitudinal, transverse, and vertical) and extrinsic (palatoglossus, hyoglossus, sty...

In this episode we explore the 5th cranial nerve, CNV aka The Trigeminal nerve, discussing the function and route of its three major branches. We will also discover what happens when we damage one of these branches, and SPOILERS it has nothing to do with facial palsy or facial weakness. Terms explored this episode; Trigeminal nerve, Ophthalmic branch V1, Maxillary branch V2, Mandibular branch V3....

This week let’s talk about a vertebra (singular) and explore its named parts. We will also compare how and why these vertebrae (pleural) differ throughout the spinal column. Terms covered this week; vertebral body, spinous & transverse processes, spinal canal, laminae, intervertebral foramen and articular facets.