胎儿左心房主要结构的增龄变化

目的观测不同胎龄胎儿左心房结构,分析其大小范围及变化规律,为临床疾病诊断及手术治疗提供形态学资料。方法将40例胎心标本按胎龄大小分为4组,对各组胎儿左心房内主要结构(左上、下肺静脉内径,右上、下肺静脉内径,左心房壁厚度,二尖瓣环长、长短径大小)进行观测比较,所得数据用SPSS系统处理。结果不同胎龄的平均值,左上、下肺静脉内径分别为0.41±0.18cm、0.38±0.13cm;右上、下肺静脉内径分别为0.44±0.14cm、0.43±0.14cm,心房壁厚度为0.05±0.02cm,二尖瓣环长、长短径分别为0.61±0.25cm、0.49±0.02cm。结论胎儿左心房各结构随胎龄增长呈正相关。     

国人儿童甲状腺的应用解剖

目的 探讨国人儿童甲状腺的形态、位置。方法 对34例0-9岁儿童尸体进行解剖,完整暴露甲状腺,观察其形态,用游标卡尺测量其高、宽、厚度。结果 ①甲状腺前面宽平均为3.33 cm。左侧叶高(2.69±0.67)cm;宽(1.05±0.34)cm;厚(0.62±0.22)cm;右侧叶高(2.78±0.68)cm;宽(0.99±0.33)cm;厚(0.62±0.21)cm。②Ⅰ型两个侧叶和峡部,有17例(50％);Ⅱ型两个侧叶、峡部和锥叶,有16例(47.1％);Ⅲ型两个侧叶(无峡部及锥叶)1例(2.9％)。③甲状腺的位置:左侧上极平甲状软骨中部23例(68％),右侧上极平对甲状软骨中部25例(74％),峡部上缘平对环状软骨25例(74％),34例中有锥状叶的16例(47％)。结论 探明了国人儿童甲状腺形态、位置、大小,为临床应用提供了局部解剖学资料,为小儿缺碘甲状腺肿的普查提供了参考资料。     

双侧股骨内外侧髁解剖学

目的测量股骨髁的某些形态参数,确定股骨髁在形态方面是否存在左右差异。方法收集郑州大学解剖学教研室的股骨111个(左侧64个和右侧47个),用游标卡尺测量相关数据。结果股骨的平均双髁宽度为左侧(7.79±0.56)cm,右侧(7.66±0.40)cm(P0.05)。内侧髁长度相对值是左侧(6.09±0.53)cm和右侧(5.97±0.41)cm(P0.05);外侧髁长度为左侧(6.06±0.43)cm和右侧(6.00±0.41)cm(P0.05);髁间宽度为左侧(1.92±0.24)cm和右侧(1.83±0.16)cm(P0.05);髁间深度为左侧(2.94±0.25)cm和右侧(2.90±0.25)cm(P0.05)。提示双侧的股骨髁各项数据在统计学上没有明显的差别。结论双侧股骨髁的一致性可能是设计全膝关节假体的理论基础,健侧膝关节可用于术前制作患侧模板。     

An anatomical study on the lingual–facial trunk

Purpose  We quantified variations of the lingual artery origin, measured the lingual artery origin distance from clinical relevant landmarks and compared the lingual artery diameters with normal and variable origin. Methods  Forty-two formalin fixed male cadavers were bilaterally evaluated. Measurements were performed with the aid of an electronic digital caliper. Results  The origin distances from the common carotid artery bifurcation was 1.05 ± 0.11 and 1.02 ± 0.11 cm for the right and left lingual arteries respectively with no differences compared to the lingual–facial trunks. The diameters of the lingual arteries were 0.25 ± 0.01 and 0.26 ± 0.01 cm for the right and left sides, respectively, while the lingual–facial trunks showed diameters of 0.21 ± 0.02 and 0.24 ± 0.02 cm for the right and left sides, respectively. Conclusions  The present study adds information on the lingual artery diameter and its anatomical relation to clinically useful landmarks.     

Influence of thoracic sympathectomy on cardiac induced oscillations in tissue blood volume

The photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal, which measures cardiac-induced changes in tissue blood volume by light transmission measurements, shows spontaneous fluctuations. In this study, PPG was simultaneously measured in the right and left index fingers of 16 patients undergoing thoracic sympathectomy, and, from each PPG pulse, the amplitude of the pulse (AM) and its maximum (BL) were determined. The parameter AM/BL is proportional to the cardiac-induced blood volume increase, which depends on the arterial wall compliance. AM/BL increased after the thoracic sympathectomy treatment (for male patients, from 2.60±1.49% to 4.81±1.21%), as sympathetic denervation decreases arterial tonus in skin. The very low-frequency (VLF) fluctuations of BL or AM showed high correlation (0.90±0.11 and 0.92±0.07, respectively) between the right and left hands before the thoracic sympathectomy, and a significant decrease in the right-left correlation coefficient (to 0.54±0.22 and 0.76±0.20, respectively) after the operation. The standard deviation of the BL or AM VLF fluctuations also reduced after the treatment, indicating sympathetic mediation of the VLF PPG fluctuations. The study also shows that the analysis of the PPG signal and the VLF fluctuations of the PPG parameters enable the assessment of the change in sympathetic nervous system activity after thoracic sympathectomy.     

Minimal effects of nitric oxide on spatial blood flow heterogeneity of the dog heart

 Eleven Beagle dogs were studied to elucidate the possible role of L-arginine-derived nitric oxide on local blood flow distribution in left and right ventricular myocardium. Local blood flow was determined in 256 samples from the left and 64 samples from the right ventricle per heart using the tracer microsphere technique (mean sample mass 319 ± 131 mg). Nitric oxide production was effectively inhibited by intravenous infusion of 20 mg/kg nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) as evidenced by a shift of the dose/response curve for the effect of intracoronary administration of bradykinin (0.004–4.0 nmol/min) on coronary blood flow. L-NAME enhanced left and right ventricular systolic pressures from 132 ± 18 to 155 ± 15 mm Hg and from 26 ± 3 to 29 ± 3 mm Hg respectively (both P = 0.043). Mean left ventricular blood flow was 1.14 ± 0.38 before and 0.99 ± 0.28 ml min^–1 g^–1 after L-NAME (P = 0.068), while right ventricular blood flow fell from 0.72 ± 0.28 to 0.53 ± 0.20 ml min^–1 g^–1 (P = 0.043). Coronary conductance of left and right ventricular myocardium fell by 31 and 43% respectively (both P = 0.043). The coefficient of variation of left ventricular blood flow was 0.26 ± 0.07 before and 0.29 ± 0.07 after L-NAME (P = 0.068), that of right ventricular blood flow was 0.27 before and after L-NAME. Skewness (0.51) and kurtosis (4.23) of left ventricular blood flow distribution were unchanged after L-NAME, while in the right ventricle skewness decreased from 0.54 to 0.09 (P = 0.043) and kurtosis (3.68) tended to decrease after L-NAME (P = 0.080). The fractal dimension (D = 1.20–1.27) and the corresponding nearest-neighbor correlation coefficient (r _n = 0.37–0.53) of left and right ventricular myocardium remained unchanged after infusion of L-NAME. From these results it is concluded that firstly, local nitric oxide release does not explain the higher perfusion of physiological high flow samples and secondly, that spatial myocardial blood flow coordination is not dependent on nitric oxide. Received: 11 July 1996 / Received after revision: 29 October 1996 / Accepted: 17 December 1996     

容量负荷和压力负荷型心脏肥大大鼠模型的建立及评价

目的： 通过建立压力负荷型和容量负荷型心脏肥大大鼠模型，比较各种评价大鼠心脏结构和功能的方法。 方法： 采用腹主动脉-下腔静脉造瘘法和主动脉缩窄法分别复制容量负荷型和压力负荷型心脏肥大大鼠模型，应用超声心动图、血流动力学检测、心脏称量以及组织切片等多种方法评价心脏结构和功能。 结果： 手术组模型心脏重量均明显大于假手术组。动静脉瘘手术组1周时左心室内径及容积均明显大于假手术组［（0.67±0.03）cm vs （0.60±0.20）cm, （0.69±0.10）mL vs （0.50±0.04）mL，P<0.01］，相对室壁厚度 (RWT) 在手术组明显小于假手术组（0.46±0.05 vs 0.55±0.05，P<0.01）；主动脉缩窄手术组1周时室间隔厚度及左室后壁厚度明显大于假手术组［（0.20±0.03） cm vs （0.16±0.02）cm，P<0.01; （0.20±0.03）cm vs （0.16±0.02）cm，P<0.01］，RWT明显大于假手术组（0.71±0.17 vs （0.56±0.12，P<0.05）， +dp/dtmax明显增加(4 886±1 304 vs 3 674±325，P<0.05)。 2周时上述参数变化更为显著。 结论： 腹主动脉-下腔静脉造瘘和主动脉缩窄方法成功复制了容量负荷型和压力负荷型大鼠心脏肥大模型，通过超声心动图和血流动力学检测可较全面地评价心脏结构和功能变化，其中RWT是两种模型都敏感的指标。     

STIMULUS REPETITION RATE FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE THE AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIAL IN MAN

The slow component of the auditory evoked potential in man was investigated under various conditions which produced an increase in stimulus repetition rate. The left ear received a 1000 Hz tone once each 5 sec. Intervening stimuli, also of 1000 Hz, were presented to (1) the right ear, (2) both ears, and (3) the left ear. Their relative influence on response amplitude to periodic left ear stimulation was evaluated. The results indicated that: (1) intervening right ear stimulation reduced significantly response amplitude to left ear stimulation; (2) presenting the intervening stimuli to both ears simultaneously caused no further decrement in response amplitude; (3) presenting the intervening stimuli to the left ear alone brought about a further and significant decrease in response amplitude to left ear stimulation. These findings imply that habituation of the auditory evoked potential is greatest when the same pattern of neural activity is repeatedly initiated. When the intervening stimuli elicit a different pattern of neural excitation, habituation is less, even though stimulation rate remains unchanged.     

An animal model of ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential in guinea pigs

This study aimed to establish an animal model of ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) in guinea pigs. Ten healthy and 10 gentamicin-treated guinea pigs underwent oVEMP test using a hand-held bone-conducted vibrator placed on the animal’s forehead. All 10 healthy animals exhibited bilateral oVEMPs at the stimulus intensity of 139 dB force level (FL), with a mean threshold and latencies of peak nI and pI of 130 ± 4 dBFL, 3.17 ± 0.37 ms and 4.72 ± 0.38 ms, respectively. Similar to response rate, the nI–pI amplitude decreased markedly in magnitude as stimulus intensity decreased. Another 10 animals administered with gentamicin (2 mg) on the left ear 1 week after surgery had 100% clear oVEMPs beneath the left eye (ipsilateral to the lesion side), whereas oVEMPs were absent and reduced beneath the right eye (opposite to the lesion side) in 7 and 3 animals, respectively. Morphological study of animals with absent oVEMPs identified substantial damage to the hair cells of the utricular macula. Quantitative analysis revealed that histological density of intact hair cells of the utricular macula from control and lesion ears were 194 ± 15 and 66 ± 9 per 130 × 130 μm² field, respectively, showing a 68% reduction in the latter. Further, the stereocilia of the residual hair cells were either fused or deformed, and pointed outward randomly. In conclusion, this study establishes the animal model of oVEMP in guinea pigs using bone-conducted vibration stimuli, which sets the stage for investigating the pathophysiology of the utricular disorders.     

Morphometric variability of pyramidalis muscle and its clinical significance

Purpose

The goal of the study is to analyze the morphometric diversity of the pyramidalis muscle (PM) and to evaluate how it is affected by gender and side of occurrence.

Materials and methods

Ninety-six (50 male and 46 female) formalin-embalmed Greek cadavers were dissected.

Results

The PM was present in 93.8 %, usually bilaterally (79.2 %) than unilaterally (14.6 %) (p = 0.003) and more frequently in females (91.3 %) than in males (68 %) (p = 0.0001). Side symmetry was detected. The mean length of PM in males and females was 8.37 ± 2.80 and 6.18 ± 1.64 cm on the right and 7.50 ± 2.66 and 6.56 ± 1.68 cm on the left side. Male predominance existed on the right and left-sided PM lengths (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.054). The mean width of the right-sided PMs in males and females was 1.61 ± 0.55 and 1.50 ± 0.44 cm and the left-sided 1.56 ± 0.53 and 1.55 ± 0.38 cm without gender dimorphism. The positive correlation between the PM length and width indicates a symmetrical muscle augmentation on the two dimensions.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates that the PM is almost constant in Greeks. Among populations the muscle morphometric variability, its clinical significance and its variable uses will help surgeons when intervening in the lower abdominal wall.

     

102例部队良性关节痛患者体表多部位血流量研究

用ＬＤＦ３多普勒微循环血流计检查１０２例部队良性关节痛患者体表多部位的血流量。结果：舌尖２．８９±４．００Ｖ，舌下２．９３±０．４８Ｖ，下唇３．０９±０．８９Ｖ，甲襞３．０２±０．５７Ｖ，耳垂２．８６±０．３７Ｖ，左膝眼３．５６±０．７５Ｖ，右膝眼３．３５±０．３７Ｖ，左犊鼻３．５２±０．６８Ｖ，右犊鼻３．３３±０．８１Ｖ。除耳垂外，各部位检测结果均明显低于正常人组（Ｐ＜０．０１或０．００１）。研究结果表明，良性关节痛患者膝关节局部和全身均存在有明显微循环障碍表现。     

输尿管与生殖股神经的应用解剖及临床意义

目的:为临床输尿管手术中避免损伤生殖股神经提供应用解剖学资料。方法:在21具42侧经甲醛固定的成人尸体标本上,对生殖股神经腰大肌穿出点的位置关系、在髂嵴最高点平面和髂总血管分叉平面生殖股神经与输尿管的位置关系、生殖股神经与输尿管交叉点的位置关系等进行了解剖观测。结果:①生殖股神经腰大肌穿出点距髂嵴最高点平面上方的垂直距离,左侧(2.93±0.14)cm、右侧(3.61±0.19)cm;距腰大肌外侧缘的水平距离,左侧(2.14±0.83)cm、右侧(1.87±0.85)cm;生殖股神经穿出点位于输尿管内侧占80.95%。②在髂嵴最高点平面,生殖股神经位于输尿管外侧占71.43%,其平均距离在左侧为(1.09±0.71)cm、右侧(1.36±0.62)cm。③在髂总血管分叉水平面,生殖股神经全部行于输尿管的外侧。④生殖股神经与输尿管80.95%发生交叉,交叉点距髂嵴最高点平面上方的垂直距离在左侧为(0.73±0.21)cm、右侧(0.56±0.16)cm;交叉点距腰大肌外侧缘的水平距离在左侧为(1.66±0.42cm)、右侧(1.65±0.38cm)。结论:在输尿管起始段手术应从其后外侧分离较安全;在输尿管第2狭窄附近的手术应从后内侧分离较安全。     

重组人胰岛素原基因在培养的大鼠肝癌细胞中基因转移和表达

目的： 探讨含有葡萄糖反应元件的重组人胰岛素原基因在培养的大鼠肝癌细胞中基因转移及表达情况。方法: 将含有3点突变及2点突变的人胰岛素原基因转染至大鼠肝癌CBRH7919细胞，测定不同葡萄糖浓度下瞬时及用G418筛选稳定表达后胰岛素的分泌量，并检测基因整合情况。结果： ① 转染后38 h及1个月，不同葡萄糖浓度下，含有3点突变胰岛素原基因的肝癌细胞胰岛素分泌量不同; 含有2点突变胰岛素原基因的肝癌细胞，只有在25 mmol/L的葡萄糖浓度培养液中，才能测出胰岛素分泌量；② 阳性克隆细胞基因组扩增出特异目的电泳条带，未转染细胞无此条带。结论: ①用逆转录病毒为载体能将重组人胰岛素原基因转染到肝癌细胞中,并使之稳定表达。② 所构建的重组人胰岛素原基因能指导靶细胞随葡萄糖浓度的变化调节胰岛素分泌。     

Novel patterns for the growing main bronchi in the human fetus: an anatomical, digital and statistical study

Purpose

Intensive progress in prenatal medicine results in performing airway management in the fetus affected by life-threatening congenital malformations. This study aimed to examine age-specific reference intervals and growth dynamics for length, proximal and distal external transverse diameters, and projection surface areas of the two main bronchi at varying gestational ages, including their relative growth in length and projection surface area.

Materials and methods

Using anatomical dissection, digital image analysis and statistics, length, proximal and distal external transverse diameters, and projection surface areas of the right and left main bronchi were examined in 73 human fetuses (39 males, 34 females) aged 14–25 weeks, derived from spontaneous abortions and stillbirths.

Results

Statistical analysis showed no sex differences. Between the 14 and 25th week of gestation, the lengths of the right and left main bronchi increased from 1.43 ± 0.18 to 3.18 ± 0.39 mm, and from 2.97 ± 0.16 to 7.58 ± 1.95 mm, in accordance with the functions: $ y = - 4.850 + 2.452 x \; \text{ln}\left( {\text{Age}} \right) \pm 0.400\;{\text{and}}\;y = - 15.005 + 7.093x \; \text{ln} \left( {\text{Age}} \right) \pm 0.579 $ , respectively. The proximal external transverse diameters of the right and left main bronchi varied from 2.13 ± 0.41 to 4.24 ± 0.20 mm, and from 1.84 ± 0.06 to 3.67 ± 0.66 mm, following the logarithmic models: $ y = - 8.666 + 4.018x \; \text{ln}{\rm (Age)} \pm 0.367\;{\text{and}}\;y = - 6.938 + 3.305x{\text{ ln(Age) }} \pm 0.323 $ , respectively. The distal external transverse diameter rose from 2.09 ± 0.47 to 4.24 ± 0.20 mm, as $ y = - 8.723 + 4.021x{\text{ ln(Age)}} \pm 0.392 $ for the right main bronchus, and from 1.85 ± 0.04 to 3.67 ± 0.66 mm, like $ y = - 6.924 + 3.280x{\text{ ln(Age)}} \pm 0.348 $ for the left one. On either side, there were no statistically significant differences between values of the proximal and distal transverse diameters of the main bronchus. The projection surface areas of the right and left main bronchi ranged from 2.95 ± 0.19 to 13.34 ± 2.12 mm², and from 5.57 ± 0.21 to 28.52 ± 5.24 mm², as $ y = - 10.212 + 0.943x{\text{ Age}} \pm 1.739 $ and $ y = - 19.119 + 1.875x{\text{ Age}} \pm 3.054 $ . The two main bronchi revealed a proportionate increase in both length and projection surface area, since the right-to-left bronchial length ratio and the right-to-left bronchial projection surface area ratio were stable, 0.41 ± 0.07 and 0.47 ± 0.08, respectively, throughout the analyzed period.

Conclusions

The main bronchi show no sex differences. The right and left main bronchi grow logarithmically in length and external transverse diameter, and linearly in projection surface area. The right and left main bronchi evolve proportionately, with the right-to-left bronchial ratios of 0.41 ± 0.07 for length, and 0.47 ± 0.08 for projection surface area.     

经股静脉行肝内门-体静脉分流插管术的回归方程及临床意义

目的　为临床经股静脉肝内门 体静脉分流插管术提供解剖学依据。方法　在 4 5具成人尸体上观测了双侧股静脉穿刺点至肝中静脉的长度 ,与胸骨颈静脉切迹到耻骨联合上缘的距离作相关回归分析。结果　从左侧股静脉穿刺点至肝中静脉的长度为 (3 9 83± 3 87)cm ,直线回归方程为 ^y =3 0 9± 0 71x;P <0 0 2 5 ;从右侧股静脉穿刺点至肝中静脉的长度为(3 8 4 9± 3 60 )cm ,直线回归方程为 ^y =3 0 3± 0 67x ;P <0 0 1;左、右侧股静脉与髂外、髂总静脉的夹角分别为 163 2 2°± 5 5 7°和 166 0 0°± 5 10° ,左、右侧髂外、髂总静脉与下腔静脉的夹角分别为 14 6 4 4°± 9 0 7°和 15 8 0 0°± 5 2 3°。结论　经右侧股静脉插管较左侧更为有利 ,可根据方程计算出从股静脉穿刺点到肝中静脉的长度     

The clinical and radiological status of contralateral ears in unilateral cholesteatoma patients

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical and radiological features and the risk of middle ear disease in the contralateral ears of unilateral cholesteatoma with clinical and radiological assessment.

Methods

Fifty-two patients with unilateral cholesteatoma and 30 control subjects underwent otoscopic and audiologic examination. Temporal bone computed tomography was performed to evaluate the pneumatization of the temporal bones, the status of anterior epitympanic space and eustachian tube. Then, the parameters of the temporal bone pneumatization were calculated.

Results

28 % of the contralateral ears in the cholesteatoma patients showed abnormal tympanic membrane findings. In the audiologic examination, 10 % of the contralateral ears showed moderate hearing loss and 3 % showed severe hearing loss. Aeration areas were 1.81 ± 1.01, 2.50 ± 1.31 and 4.49 ± 1.45 cm², aeration ratios were 24, 28 and 42 %, in cholesteatoma, contralateral and control ears, respectively. Development of the anterior epitympanic space and eustachian tube patency was reduced in contralateral ears relative to control ears.

Conclusions

The degree of temporal bone pneumatization, eustachian tube function, and development of the anterior epitympanic space are significantly decreased in the contralateral ears of unilateral cholesteatoma patients, and there is an increased risk of middle ear diseases. Continuous monitoring of the contralateral ear is crucial for early detection and optimal treatment of middle ear disease.     

Asymmetry during regeneration of microvessels in rabbit ear

General principle of development, the left-to-right gradient of maturation, is valid for the regeneration of microvessels in rabbit ear. This manifests itself in a more rapid regeneration of microvessels of the left ear. The right ear is characterized by excessive regeneration which then decreases to the normal. Dalargin has different effects on microvessels in different ears: in the left ear the peptide inhibits revascularization, while in the right ear it accelerates the process of revascularization. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 3, pp. 343–345, March, 1997     

Failure to control prepotent pathways in early stage dementia of the Alzheimer's type: evidence from dichotic listening

The authors examined the right ear advantage in a dichotic listening task in healthy aging and very mild and mild stages of Alzheimer's disease. Subjects were simultaneously presented 3 pairs of digits to the left and right ears (e.g., left ear: 4, 3, 1; right ear: 9, 2, 5) for immediate ordered recall. Four lists of triads were presented, varying in presentation rate between digit pairs within a triad (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 s). Results indicated that the very mild and mild Alzheimer's groups showed a larger right ear advantage in free recall compared with the healthy controls, indicating a tendency to respond to the prepotent left hemisphere pathway for language processing. Also, the right ear advantage and proportion of switches made during recall were correlated with psychometric measures of frontal lobe function in the mild Alzheimer's group but not in the very mild or healthy control groups.     

Infra‐renal angles,entry into inferior vena cava and vertebral levels of renal veins

Current norms for renal vasculature hold true in only half the population. Standard textbooks perpetuate old misconceptions regarding renal venous anatomy. This study is aimed to determine left and right infra‐renal angles (L‐IRA, R‐IRA); entry level of renal veins into the inferior vena cava (IVC), and height of IVC under renal vein influence; and their vertebral level. One hundred morphologically normal en‐bloc renal specimens randomly selected from post‐mortem examinations were dissected and resin casted. IRA were also measured from venograms of 32 adult and 11 foetal cadavers, as were vertebral entry levels. IRA measurements (degrees) were as follows: left, 55° ± 16° (20°–102°); right, 60° ± 17° (10°–93°). Left vein entered IVC higher than right 54%, lower 36%, and opposite each other 10%. Vertical distance between lower borders of veins was 1.0 ± 0.9 cm. Vertical distance of IVC under renal vein influence was 2.3 ± 1.0 cm. Vertebral level of veins in adults lies between TI2–L2. In foetuses, IRA was as follows: left, 65° ± 12° (45°–90°); right, 58° ± 7° (40°–70°); vertebral level between T12 and L3. Similar IRA values from literature noted on right, 51° (26°–100°); differences on left, 77° (43° –94°), clearly differing from Williams et al. (Gray's Anatomy, 37^th ed, 1989) statement that renal veins “open into the inferior vena cava almost at right angles.” Large variations of IRA are not surprising since kidneys are considered normally “floating viscera,” varying position with posture and respiratory movement as well as in live vs. cadaveric subjects. The entry level into the IVC also differs from Williams et al. This study uniquely quantitated actual height difference between lower borders of left and right veins. The data presented appears to be the first documentation of vertebral level of entry of renal veins into IVC in foetuses. These findings are clinically important for the angiographer, catheter design, and planning porto‐renal shunt procedures. Anat Rec 256:202–207, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.