Dissectible Me 5 minute anatomy

The Cranial Nerves

WARNING! The following programme contains anatomy that some students may find daunting. CRANIAL NERVES! Love them or hate them these twelve paired nerves are crucially important, and, in this podcast, we will cover some of their very basics to get you started. What are they, where are they and very briefly what do they do?
 

The Soft Palate

"Say ahh"…. probably a sentence a clinician has said to you at some point in your life.  But did you stop to consider what they are doing and what is the underlying anatomy? Today we explore the soft palate, its 5 muscles and associated nerves.

The Intraocular muscles

This episode explores the muscles inside the eye. Their names, location, function, and autonomic control.  
Terms covered this week; The pupil, iris, lens, ciliary muscles, sphincter pupilliae, dilator pupilliae, myosis, mydriasis, the light reflex & Horner syndrome.

The Lacrimal glands & Nasolacrimal apparatus

Ever wondered why we shed salty water from our eyes in times of extreme emotion? Ever considered what exactly are tears, why do we have them, where do they come from and what controls their release? All these questions will be explored in this 5-minute podcast exploring some detail of the orbit. We will specifically focus on the anatomy of the lacrimal glands, their innervation, the drainage system of the eye, and some clinical relevance squeezed in at the end.
Terms explored this week; lacrimal gland, accessory lacrimal glands, lacrimal lake, nasal canaliculi, nasolacrimal apparatus, greater petrosal nerve, epiphora & dacryocystitis.

The Extraocular muscles

Gazing at the words before you, your eyes track left to right utilising muscles attached to the eye's outer surface to do so. These ‘extraocular’ muscles are the focus of today's podcast. Let’s discuss the names and locations of these seven muscles, whilst also outlining their primary functions and the nerves that innervate these actions.

The Breast

This week we discuss the anatomy of one of the features that define us humans as mammals, that is the mammary glands or breast tissue. In this episode, we review breast anatomy and the normal physiological changes that occur during the life cycle. Whilst also outlining changes to the breast that warrant greater cause for concern. We focus on the vascular supply and perhaps more importantly the lymphatics of the breast aiming to provide a basic introduction to breast anatomy.
Terms covered in this podcast; Lobules, Lactiferous ducts, Suspensory ligaments of Cooper, Tubercles of Montgomery, Plexus of Sappey, Lateral thoracic artery (aka external mammary artery), and Internal thoracic (aka internal mammary artery).

The Achilles Tendon

Today we discuss a tendon named after the Ancient Greek Demigod Achilles which is a good name for the strongest tendon in the human body! Legend has it Achilles was dipped in the River Styx by his mother Thetis who secured him by his heal to do so. This action made Achilles invulnerable to damage everywhere that touched the sacred waters. Fast forward to the Trojan war and an arrow shot to the unsanctified ‘Achilles heel’ ultimately resulted in his demise and has forever become synonymous with a weak spot or vulnerability. Let’s explore the anatomy of said tendon, its function, and some clinical bits and bobs to close out this 5-minute soundbite.

The Bones of the Foot

This week let’s discuss a ‘talus old as time’, by discussing the osteology of the foot. The human foot is an evolutionary and biomechanical marvel, and, in this episode, we will explore the basics of the bones and joints that make up its structure. Let's explore the subdivisions that make up the hind, mid, and forefoot and add in a couple of classic clinically relevant aspects of this anatomy.
A commonly used mnemonic to remember the small tarsal bones is Tiger Cubs Need M I L C.

The Ankle joint

This episode spotlights the anatomy of the ankle joint. The bones that make up the ankle, the joint itself, and the ligaments.
Terms discussed; medial & lateral malleoli, the talocrural joint (and alternatives), dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, eversion, and the deltoid & anterior talofibular ligaments (ATFL). 

The anatomy of a facial palsy (differentiating UMN vs LMN lesions)

This week let's tackle an area of anatomy that many learn ready for an exam, only to discover that this knowledge has gone again mere days to weeks later. The infamous but wonderful anatomy underpinning facial palsies and specifically how to differentiate upper vs lower motor neurone lesions.
In this podcast, we will discuss key anatomical principles underpinning types of motor neurones and give a nod to the corticobulbar tract. We will discuss how bicortical representation of the temporal branch of CNVII has no doubt saved countless lives. And finally, why weakness in the forehead and the inability to raise one’s eyebrows is somewhat reassuring in a facial nerve palsy. If this is an area of anatomy you struggle with or you simply want to hear more about it, then join us in this episode of dissectible me!