Dissectible Me 5 minute anatomy

The phrenic nerve is well known for its role in innervating the diaphragm and its roots in the C3, 4 and 5 spinal nerves. It also innervates the pericardium, is implicated in the runner's stitch pain and can be responsible for pain in the shoulder.

The largest nerve in the body has many spinal nerve roots in the low back that are often the cause of pain in the lower limb. Let's quickly describe the anatomy of this huge nerve.

One of the huge reasons that exercise and a good diet are so important is atherosclerosis. This pathology describes a change to the walls of arteries that can cause narrowing, rupture or blocking of an artery. If this occurs in an artery supplying blood to the heart or the brain this will probably cause death, and is a leading cause of death in western countries.

It's the largest organ in the body (or on the body)? You can't live without it, it is an entire system of the body (the integumentary system), it is the major sensory organ, and it gets wrinkly as you get older. Skin!

There are only four tissues that make up the body (epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous). We should talk about epithelia and carcinoma.

Erb's palsy is an upper brachial plexus injury and is an example of why learning the anatomy of the brachial plexus is important. How does this palsy present and what has been injured?

The aorta is the major artery that runs the length of the torso, has some cool curves, and supplies blood to everything.

Gait is complicated, and Trendelenburg gait is an abnormal gait caused by a weakness or paralysis of the gluteus medius and minimus muscles. How does this work? (Or not work)?

The adrenal glands are vital and the cortex and medulla of each have different functions. Let's talk about their anatomy and what they do.

The sacroiliac joint is a very strong joint that takes the load of the torso from the vertebral column and sends it to the pelvis and lower limbs. It is a synovial joint that allows a little movement and is strongly supported by ligaments. Pain here is often caused by the joint being pulled too far by the large muscles that cross it or that move the pelvis.

The ribs are a series of 12 curving bones on either side of the torso forming the walls of the thorax and upper abdomen. Let's talk about their parts and how they move.

The pancreas is an organ that most people know about because of its job in producing insulin and managing blood sugar levels. When this doesn't work correctly diabetes develops. It has other endocrine roles and exocrine jobs too, in digestion. Let's talk about where it is in the body and some of the details of the anatomy of this vital organ in 5 minutesish.

The pelvis has two halves (left and right) but each half is also made up of three bones. Let's look at the anatomy of the ilium, ischium and pubis bones and how they link to the back and lower limb.

The nuchal ligament is in the back of your neck and you can feel it when you flex your neck forwards. What does it do and where does it come from?

The pudendal nerve is responsible for sensation from the external genitalia and the perineum, and for motor innervation of the muscles here including the urethral and anal sphincters. It comes from the sacral plexus, so how does it get to the perineum?

The anatomy of venous drainage of the thoracic wall. What is the azygos venous system? Where is it found? Why is it important & interesting?

Terms covered this week, The azygos, hemiazygos & accessory hemiazygos veins.

We are back! Pun intended. In this episode, Sam will discuss the very important structure that exists between the vertebrae of your spine. The fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disk. This mobile, compressible, and stabilising tissue is integral for a happy healthy spine.

Terms covered this week: The annulus fibrosus & the nucleus pulposus. Type I & type II collagen. Vertebral endplate & disk herniation.