Formation of the Spinal Nerves

The spinal nerves are mixed nerves that originate from the spinal cord, forming the peripheral nervous system.

Each spinal nerve begins as an anterior (motor) and a posterior (sensory) nerve root. These roots arise from the spinal cord, and unite at the intervertebral foramina, forming a single spinal nerve.

The spinal nerve then leaves the vertebral canal via the intervertebral foramina, and then divides into two:

The cecum is the most proximal part of the large intestine and is located between the ileum (distal small bowel) and the ascending colon.

Having served as a site for cellulose digestion in our ancestors, the cecum now simply acts as a reservoir for chyme which it receives from the ileum.

In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the cecum – its anatomical structure, neurovascular supply, and lymphatic drainage.

The colon (large intestine) is the distal part of the gastrointestinal tract, extending from the cecum to the anal canal. It receives digested food from the small intestine, from which it absorbs water and electrolytes to form faeces.

Anatomical Structure

The testes have an ellipsoid shape. They consist of a series of lobules, each containing seminiferous tubules supported by interstitial tissue. The seminiferous tubules are lined by Sertoli cells that aid the maturation process of the spermatozoa. In the interstitial tissue lie the Leydig cells that are responsible for testosterone production.

The popliteal fossa is a diamond shaped area located on the posterior aspect of the knee. It is the main path by which vessels and nerves pass between the thigh and the leg.

In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the popliteal fossa – its borders, contents and clinical correlations.

Borders
 

The popliteal fossa is diamond shaped with four borders. These borders are formed by the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg and thigh:

Greater and Lesser Curvatures

The medial and lateral borders of the stomach are curved, forming the lesser and greater curvatures:

A meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous anatomical structure that, in contrast to an articular disc, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans they are present in the knee, wrist, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other animals they may be present in other joints.