Summary

Fixation is a well-established principle used in forensic medicine, histology, pathology, and immunohistochemistry; meanwhile, preservation in anatomy involves maintaining the biological sample in good condition. In the preservation laboratory of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Guayaquil, known as the Anatomical Preparations Workshop, Glycerinization by vascular repletion has been implemented for the preservation of real models intended for the teaching of Morphological Sciences. This technique has been periodically improved and refined by applying a tolerable compound without affecting the health of students, teachers, visitors, or the environment. Glycerinization ensures good fixation results and better preservation with optimal outcomes, especially due to the flexibility of the specimens and their multiple applications in the Health Sciences, particularly in the field of research. Glycerinization is the accepted technique at our University; its components have been standardized and adapted to environmental conditions with good results. Glycerinization was sustained during pandemic times; therefore, it is a biologically proven technique in the academic field.

Keywords

Anatomical preservation, Glycerin-based preservation, Vascular perfusion techniques, Universidad de Guayaquil, Real models

Summary

A historical and etymological review of the bone of the arm, the humerus, is presented, as recognized in the current international Terminologia Anatomica. This bone element was adopted into Latin later in history, since it was initially designated in Greek to refer to various components of the upper limb, encompassing structures from the hand to the elements of the shoulder girdle.

Keywords

History, Humerus, Etymology

Summary

Skeletal muscle fat infiltration (myosteatosis) is an ectopic fat depot that increases with age and negatively impacts cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal health. This fat infiltration is typically distributed throughout the body. In rare instances, a muscle is completely replaced by adipose tissue. During a gross anatomy class, a cadaver was discovered to seemingly have a complete bi-lateral replacement of full-size gastrocnemius muscles with adipose tissue. A histological analysis using H&E and Gomori staining was used to examine the gastrocnemius muscles in proximal and distal locations. A 63-yr old female cadaver presented a very robust musculature, except for bilateral gastrocnemius color, with no obvious anatomical pathologies. Upon gross visualization, the gastrocnemius medial heads (bilateral) appeared completely replaced with adipose tissue. Histologically, no nerve or vascular pathologies were identified as a likely cause. In the muscle, the transition to adipose appeared to occur progressively and was nearly complete (with some inflammation and fibrosis) in the medial head. The pathology appeared to originate distally (Achilles tendon) in the medial head, progressing from distal to proximal. Histology revealed the pathology progressing similarly in the lateral head, progressing from healthy muscle cells, to inflammatory cells, to connective tissue to fat. Notably the pathology was symmetrical between the right and left leg. To our knowledge this is the first report of near complete replacement of muscle with adipose tissue occurring symmetrically, in both legs and heads of the gastrocnemius muscle. Awareness of this pathology could assist clinicians working with patients who have trouble walking seemingly related to lower leg strength and scientists studying muscle loss

Keywords

Muscle, Myosteatosis, Gastrocnemius, Fatty-infiltration