anatomy

The mitral valve's complex geometry is usually described as a "saddle shape", but I definitely prefer the comparison to Pringles chips! Here's an illustration showing the relevant mitral anatomy. No Pringles were harmed in...

The glycocalyx is a surface layer of proteins lining the luminal (blood-containing) side of vascular endothelium. It plays an important role as a vascular barrier, provides structural support, facilitates cellular interactions, mitigates vasomotor tone,...

Over a dozen different aortic arch great vessel configurations have been described in humans. I’ve illustrated the two most common types in this diagram. The “normal” aortic arch gives rise to three “great vessels.”...

There’s a complex yet beautiful architecture within the heart's fibrous skeleton and valvular geometry. To become a proficient perioperative echocardiographer, one must understand these spatial relationships in three dimensions and the implications that specific...

Understanding neuraxial anatomy is an essential part to successfully perform epidural and spinal (intrathecal) anesthetics. Here's a schematic outlining the layers we encounter when performing these procedures: A: skin B: subcutaneous tissue C: supraspinous ligament D: interspinous ligament E:...

Do you know the mnemonic “SCALP” for the five layers of the scalp? The skin layer is relatively thick and contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and apocrine sweat glands.The connective tissue layer has a dense,...

Anatomically, the trachea extends from the cricoid cartilage (level of C6/C7) to the carina (T4/T5) and is reinforced anteriorly by approximately 20 semicircular, cartilaginous rings. The trachea divides into the right and left mainstem...

Reading a chest x-ray (CXR) is an incredibly important aspect of acute care medicine and a skill that all healthcare providers should at least have some comfort in doing. The key for interpreting any radiographic...