The course of the superior gluteal artery (SGA) as it passes through the lumbosacral plexus is variable. The variations of the arterial course in relation to the lumbosacral plexus have focused on statistical analysis, and it is limited arterial diversity. In this study, we investigated the positional relation between the SGA and the furcal nerve (FN): guide to segmentation of the lumbosacral plexus, arising from the L4, ie, the contribution to the femoral nerve, obturator nerve, and lumbosacral trunk. We could classify the pathway of the SGA into three types based on its positional relation to the FN. The SGA courses under the ramus from which the FN originates (Type A), under the ramus one segment below the origin of the FN (Type B), or between the obturator nerve and the lumbosacral trunk (Type C). The SGA pathway in Types A and B showed a cranial or caudal shift along with cranial or caudal deviation of the FN. In summary, the variation in the SGA pathway was correlated with cranial or caudal shift of the FN. Our findings indicate that variations of the SGA pathway are associated not only with arterial transformation, but also with diversity of the lumbosacral plexus.

We examined the dorsal lingual surfaces of a newborn and an old polar bears by using scanning electron microscopy. In the newborn polar bear, the filiform papilla on the lingual apex was cylindrical in shape. The connective tissue core of the filiform papillae was needle-shaped and that of the fungiform papillae was funnel-shaped. The filiform papillae on the lingual body was dome-shaped. The connective tissue core of the filiform papillae was U-shaped and that of the fungiform papillae was column-shaped. On the lingual apex and body, there could not distinguish the filiform from fungiform papillae. The connective tissue core of the filiform papilla was different from the fungiform papilla. The vallate papillae were surrounded by a groove and pad and the surface was smooth. In the old bear, the filiform papilla on the lingual apex had several pointed processes. The processes of the filiform papilla on the lingual body were larger than those of the lingual apex. The vallate papillae were surrounded by a groove and pad and the surface was rough. There are no foliate papillae.

The rate of septum presence in the maxillary sinus has been reported to be over 30%. It was considered that a bony bridge might change to a maxillary sinus septum with growth in a previous study using dry child skulls. In the present investigation, maxillary sinus bony bridges and septa were longitudinally observed using computed tomography (CT). Multislice CT was performed in three patients. A bony bridge was defined as a bony structure between the maxillary sinus wall and dental germ. Also, a septum was defined as a pointed bony structure in the inferior wall of the maxillary sinus. The height and angle of the bony bridge/septum and the distance between the base of the bony bridge/septum and bony palate were measured. In three patients, the bony bridge in the maxillary sinus floor was observed in the second molar on the first CT, and the maxillary sinus septum was observed on the second CT at the same site. In conclusion, it was longitudinally observed that a bony bridge changed to a maxillary sinus septum with growth, such as root formation and tooth eruption.

In human fetuses, the palatine process of the maxilla is attached to the inferior aspect of the horizontal plate of the palatine bone (HPPB). The fetal palatomaxillary suture is so long that it extends along the anteroposterior axis rather than along the transverse axis. The double layered bony palate disappears in childhood and the transverse suture is formed. To better understand the development of the double layered bone palate, we examined histological sections obtained from 25 fetuses of gestational age 9-11, 16-18 and 30 weeks. The double layered palate was seen in all of the specimens examined. Inferior angulation of the posterior end of the HPPB was evident at 9-11 weeks, but the initial palatine aponeurosis did not attach to the angulation but to a slightly anterior site. Both the maxilla and the HPPB were tightly attached to the vomer at 16-18 weeks. In both bones, bilateral plates met at the midline. The palatomaxillary suture was filled with short, randomly arranged collagen fibers. The nasal end of the suture was covered by a tight periosteum. Immunohistochemical examination of 3 fetuses at 16-18 weeks showed: 1) no expression of versican, tenascin-c or type II collagen in the suture; 2) few mitotic cells positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen; 3) no or few CD34-positive developing vessels; and 4) no CD68-positive macrophages. These findings suggested that the fetal palatomaxillary suture was inactive for reconstruction and growth and that soft palate muscles likely did not contribute to the development of the double layered configuration.