Dissectible Me 5 minute anatomy

Foetal heart adaptations

The foetus gets its oxygen from the placenta and not from the lungs when in the uterus. The lungs are still growing and little blood flows through them. The foramen ovale is a flap valve that lets blood pass from the right atrium directly into the left atrium, avoiding the lungs. From the left side of the heart this blood will flow into the aorta and off around the body. The ductus arteriosus is a vessel that allows blood to flow from the pulmonary trunk through and into the aorta, again avoiding going through the lungs. At birth both of these foetal adaptations must close with the first breath and the activation of the lungs. 

Cerebellar tonsils and coning

How are the tonsils associated with the cerebellum? How can they be herniated and what does this mean? What is coning? Why is this an important sign? I'll explain.

Cerebellum

In 5 minutes, what is the anatomy of the cerebellum and what does it do? Why does it have 80% of all of the neurones of the brain? Why does it look like a little brain?

Spermatic cord

The spermatic cord carries all the things the testis needs to and from the torso. What is the spermatic cord made of, what are its layers, where do these layers come from, and what are all the things inside the spermatic cord?

Foregut, midgut and hindgut

How can understanding the embryology of the gastrointestinal tract as foregut, midgut and hindgut help us understand the blood supply and venous drainage of the adult GI tract?

Somatic nervous system

"Soma" means "of the body" so what is the somatic nervous system? How is this dividing up of the nervous system useful? I'll try to describe this neuroanatomy concept in 5 minutes.

Ovarian and uterine artery anastomosis

The ovarian artery branches from the aorta and supplies blood to the ovary. The uterine artery branches from the internal iliac artery and supplies blood to the uterus. But they link, and in doing so provide a collateral circulation route between the abdominal aorta and pelvic internal iliac artery. Let's discuss.

Trendelenburg Sign

What is the anatomy behind Trendelenburg gait? Why does the hip drop? Which hip drops? Which side is the weakness on? What might cause this? I'll try to describe this clearly in 5 minutes.

Major motor nerves of the lower limb

A common request is for me to summarise the nerves of the lower limb and how they innervate the muscles. If we think about the parts of the lower limb (thigh, leg and foot) and their compartments we can link each nerve to each compartment and then easily remember every nerve that innervates every muscle. Well, that's the theory.
 

Aortic dissection

An aortic dissection occurs when the innermost layer of the aorta tears and blood pushes into the walls of the aorta, separating the layers and causing some very dangerous problems. Let's talk through this process and think about the anatomy that might also be affected.