0000000000435373
AUTHOR
Thilo Wedel
Internal anal sphincter nerves - a macroanatomical and microscopic description of the extrinsic autonomic nerve supply of the internal anal sphincter.
Background: The internal anal sphincter (IAS) contributes substantially to anorectal functions. While its autonomic nerve supply has been studied at the microscopic level, little information is available concerning the macroscopic topography of extrinsic nerve fibres. This study was designed to identify neural connections between the pelvic plexus and the IAS, provide a detailed topographical description, and give histological proof of autonomic nerve tissue. Methods: Macroscopic dissection of pelvic autonomic nerves was performed under magnification in seven (5 males, 2 females) hemipelvises obtained from body donors (67-92 years). Candidate structures were investigated by histological and…
Surgical anatomy of the upper esophagus related to robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy
Abstract Robot-assisted cervical esophagectomy (RACE) enables radical surgery for tumors of the middle and upper esophagus, avoiding a transthoracic approach. However, the cervical access, narrow working space, and complex topographic anatomy make this procedure particularly demanding. Our study offers a stepwise description of appropriate dissection planes and anatomical landmarks to facilitate RACE. Macroscopic dissections were performed on formaldehyde-fixed body donors (three females, three males), according to the surgical steps during RACE. The topographic anatomy and surgically relevant structures related to the cervical access route to the esophagus were described and illustrated, a…