Dissectible Me 5 minute anatomy

The Pituitary gland

This week we talk about 'the master gland'. Getting all Lord of the Rings on you, it’s a gland that rules them all! Or at least one that controls lots of the other endocrine glands in the body.
This podcast covers the many functions of the gland and some of the hormones it produces. We will explore the anatomy and location of the gland, and outline the anatomical reasoning for some of the visual symptoms we see in pituitary tumours.

Anatomy of the Ear (The basics)

This week's podcast covers the very foundations of otology and the anatomy of the ear. What is meant by the terms outer, middle, and inner ear, and what is the bespoke function that each provides? At the end of the soundbite, we explore the clinical relevance of otitis and how ear infections affect the outlined subsections of this magnificent organ. 
SPOILER ALERT This one is longer than 5 minutes, but still remains the record shortest amount of time Chris has ever spoken about ear anatomy. 

The Thyroid gland

Today let’s talk about the gland that regulates the body's metabolic rate.....your thyroid gland! Join us in a 5-minute podcast as we discuss the gland’s cellular structure, its location, neurovascular supply, and lymphatic drainage with a sprinkling of embryology for good measure.

The Dural Venous Sinuses

This one is tough to cover in 5 minutes only, but its understanding is key for some very contemporary clinical medicine.
Today we tackle the venous drainage of the brain by introducing the dural venous sinuses. In this episode we will discuss the structure of a dural venous sinus, outlining the major named sinuses we find within the cranial cavity. We also highlight some very important structures that traverse them and finish by discussing the life-threatening clinical condition of a Dural or Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST).

The Thymus

This week's episode explores an organ that until the 1960s was thought to be vestigial. A primary lymphoid organ that is vitally important in the development and maturation of your immune system as a child. However, as an adult, it undergoes involution and appears as nothing more than some fatty tissue. An organ that is sometimes called a gland, that is not a gland but looks like a gland.....enter the Thymus.  
We will explore the location of the thymus, its anatomic features, its functions, and in doing so uncover the origins of immunity and our lymphocytes (T cells & B cells).  

The Salivary glands

Do you know your Stensen's from your Wharton’s duct? Can you find these ducts on yourself or someone else? And do you want a cheat way of remembering which facial gland is innervated by which nerve? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then listen to our latest podcast on the 'Salivary glands.'
In this podcast, we discuss the function of saliva, the location, and therefore the etymology of each of the Salivary glands. We locate their ducts and finish off by discussing the clinical terms sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, and my favourite the sialagogue!

The Spleen

Today's episode focuses on the spleen.
Location, functions, anatomical features along with some peculiarities and a sprinkling of clinical relevance.

The Brain (The basics of the obvious lumpy bits)

This week let us follow in the footsteps of our neuroscientist predecessors, reviewing their discoveries that linked the physical anatomy of the brain to corresponding basic functions. Discoveries that were largely steeped in the concept of reverse engineering, linking brain damage to functional loss. What are the main subcomponents of the brain and basically speaking what do they do?
In today's episode, we will discuss the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum, and for each, we outline an overview of their very basic function. We review grey vs white matter, the cerebral cortex, and the major lobes of the brain mapping location and function as we go. Many more podcasts on this topic to come.

The Liver

Pub quiz time. Which organ is the second largest in the body with about 400 functions?  Need another clue...? It is an abdominal organ that Chris refers to as the axolotl of the abdomen due to its regenerative abilities? Alternatively, you could just read the title. 
Today we talk about the anatomy of the Liver. An introduction to its functions (briefly), position, lobes, blood supply, and innervation. 

The Larynx

This week let's introduce another organ, the Larynx. 
What actually is the larynx? Let's explore the basics of its cartilages, muscles, membranes and neurovascular supply, discussing its functions along the way. We also introduce the terms phonation, dysphonia, and articulation.
A future podcast will take a much deeper dive into the structure but for now, enjoy the simplicity of this truly wonderful melodic organ. You have to love the puns in anatomy.