Dissectible Me 5 minute anatomy

Popliteal fossa

The popliteal fossa is posterior to the knee joint and in here we can find some major blood vessels and nerves. We will describe the boundaries of this fossa, the major structures that run through here, why this is useful clinical information and a couple of notes about remembering their names correctly.

Astrocytes and brain tumours

Astrocytes are cells in the central nervous system crucial for supporting neurones and their function. A glioblastoma is a dangerous, rapidly growing type of brain tumour. Guess how they are linked.
 

Nervous tissue

Neurones are the major cells of the nervous system, but how do they work, how are they arranged, and what are the other cells of the nervous system?

Trachea and bronchi

The anatomy of the airway is incredibly important and fairly simple. The structures of the trachea and bronchi are adapted tubes that don't collapse with changes in pressure, and the mucociliary escalator has an important protective role.

Mediastinum

The mediastinum is a region within the thorax between the lungs. In here we find the heart, great vessels, trachea, oesophagus and other anatomical structures. We can further describe where these structures are by dividing the mediastinum up into superior and inferior parts, and the inferior mediastinum up into anterior, middle and posterior medastinal compartments.

Vena cava

The anatomy of the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava in 5 minutes, with a little extra about anastomoses. These are the largest and some of the most important veins in the body.

Muscle tissue

How do skeletal muscle cells (myocytes) change their length? How does this relate to the different types of contractions that we see in gross anatomy and rigor mortis?

Parathyroid glands

The parathyroid glands are vital as they help regulate blood calcium levels. Where are they?

The amygdala

Is the amygdala the fear centre of the brain? What's the anatomy here?

Sinoatrial node

The sinoatrial node is the pacemaker of the heart. Let's talk about it in a little more detail.