Comparison of Injection/dissection and Injection/corrosion Methods: Example of Vertebral Veins in the Transverse Canal

Overview

Journal Surg Radiol Anat

Specialties Anatomy & Histology
General Surgery
Radiology

Date 2014 Aug 30

PMID 25168084

Authors

Elsa Magro

Matthieu Delion

Francis Abed-Rabbo

Philippe Mercier

Romuald Seizeur

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: In order to contribute some new elements to the discussion on the organization of the vertebral veins inside the transverse canal, we compared two dissection techniques: injection/dissection and injection/corrosion. The aim of this study was to compare these two techniques to study the vertebral veins, and also to emphasize the importance of preserving specimens in anatomical museums.

Methods: Using the injection/dissection technique, latex was injected into ten specimens, then the transverse canal was opened to expose the vertebral veins and their anastomoses. Using the injection/corrosion technique, altufix was injected into eight specimens that were afterwards plunged in sulfuric acid and washed daily until complete corrosion was obtained.

Results: Both techniques showed concordant results. The vertebral veins were plexuous, located ventro-laterally to the artery and received constant metamerical branches at each level. The injection/dissection technique conserved the anatomical relationships allowing metamerical analysis of the vertebral veins. The injection/corrosion technique, however, failed to conserve these relationships but provided a precise visualization of smaller anastomosis.

Conclusions: By analyzing different aspects of the vertebral veins anatomy in the transverse canal, the two techniques complete each other. This study emphasizes the importance of preserving the anatomical preparations: in addition to the historical and cultural value of these preparations, they contain precious information that furthers our anatomical knowledge.

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