Researchers used computer-based methods to compare the physiological behavior of Neanderthals to today's humans, finding that their noses were able to transport twice as much air to the lungs than modern humans. This unique feature allowed Neanderthals to thrive in Ice Age environments and power their more strenuous lifestyle.
The American Association of Anatomists presented its 2018 Award Recipients to recognize outstanding achievements in human anatomy education, scientific research, and leadership. The recipients included Valerie D. O'Loughlin, Kurt Albertine, Jeffrey Laitman, and Jason Organ for their contributions to the field.
The American Association of Anatomists has awarded its Young Investigator Awards to Bhart-Anjan Bhullar, Elçin Ünal, Maksim Plikus, and Helen Bateup for their groundbreaking contributions to cell biology, neuroanatomy, and developmental biology. These young scientists have made significant advancements in understanding the structural f...
A multi-university study is mapping the repeated evolution of similar head shapes among animals using their heads to dig into the ground. The researchers aim to understand how anatomy, development, relationships, and ancestry influence body shape, examining over 400 million years of evolution.
A team of researchers has identified a previously unknown feature of human anatomy, revealing layers of the body as interconnected, fluid-filled compartments. This discovery has significant implications for understanding organ function, disease progression, and the development of new diagnostic tools.
Researchers applied new technological approaches to study the iconic Neandertal skeleton, identifying fossil remains, pathological conditions, and confirming deliberate burial. The study sheds new light on Neandertal anatomy, behavior, and cultural practices.
A new study found that 3D-printed models of blood vessels are as effective as commercial models in training medical students, providing a more realistic experience. The 3D printing technology can reproduce patient anatomy, allowing trainees to practice with variations before real procedures.
A new study shows that interactive virtual reality (VR) technology improves accuracy and confidence among interventional radiologists when treating complex conditions like splenic artery aneurysms. The VR platform provides a 3D view of internal anatomy, allowing physicians to better plan their approach.
Researchers discovered a hidden caricature of Michelangelo in a sketch of Vittoria Colonna, which may help analyze the artist's physical appearance at the time. The self-portrait, leaning forward at an acute angle, is believed to have served as a signature by Michelangelo.
The Pascal system uses a spacer to fill the gap between leaflets and clamp them onto the spacer, tailored for patients with complex anatomy. The procedure has shown improved quality of life and reduced hospitalizations for patients with tricuspid regurgitation, affecting about 5% of people over age 75.
Research suggests that medical school textbooks widely used in North America contribute to racial bias through underrepresentation of dark skin tones. The study analyzed over 4,000 human images and found that only a few percent of photos featured dark skin tones.
Scientists have discovered genes linked to individual differences in brain anatomy in autistic children, with variation in cortex thickness and gene activity involved. The study provides the first evidence linking differences in the autistic brain to specific genes with atypical gene activity.
Research compares fictional patients in Grey's Anatomy with real-life traumas, finding death rates are 3 times higher and recovery times significantly shorter. The study suggests that TV dramas like Grey's Anatomy can skew public expectations of trauma care, potentially leading to lower patient satisfaction.
Researchers propose a revolutionary theory that horses never lost all their digits. They suggest that the first and fifth toes are still present in the form of ridges on modern horse hooves, contradicting the long-held idea that four-toed ancestors evolved into one-toed descendants.
ProjectDR enables clinicians to see patients' internal anatomy displayed right on the body, using motion-tracking and projection technologies. The system has vast applications in teaching, physiotherapy, laparoscopic surgery, and surgical planning.
A recent clinical anatomy review sheds light on the discovery of prostate orgasms, discovering that stimulating the prostate via the rectal wall can create exceptionally pleasurable feelings. The study highlights the need to explore this previously ignored area of orgasm research.
Researchers have linked changes in brain anatomy to early biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a non-invasive test may detect AD before symptoms appear. The study found that specific regions of the hippocampal circuit shrink in individuals with high levels of tau and amyloid-Beta proteins.
The oVert project provides free, high-resolution 3D images of internal vertebrate anatomy for research and education. The database contains scanned CT scans of over 20,000 specimens from around the world.
A South American amphibian, Siphonops annulatus, has a liver that produces blood cells throughout its lifetime and breaks down collagen. Researchers found melanomacrophages in the species' liver cells can remove and break down collagen, potentially helping to prevent cirrhosis.
Researchers develop targeted delivery vehicles for multiple sclerosis drugs using extracellular vesicles, offering a potential treatment breakthrough. The new method uses naturally occurring vesicles to deliver small molecules of RNA that boost myelin production in oligodendrocytes.
Researchers studied 3000 human neuromuscular junctions, revealing details of their anatomy and structure. Human NMJs were found to be smaller and frailer than those in mice and rats, with no effect of age on their health.
A study on an unusual snapping turtle with one lung found shared characteristics with humans born with one lung who survive beyond infancy. The researchers used digital 3D anatomical models to compare the architecture of the branching patterns inside the lungs and position of the lungs relative to the shell.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have identified that cerebrospinal fluid exits the cranial cavity through lymph vessels in mice, rewriting anatomy textbooks. The study found that this pathway is responsible for flushing out unwanted substances and may offer a starting point for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
The study reveals that Albertocetus had a large brain size, intermediate between modern cetaceans and terrestrial even-toed hoofed animals. The partial vertebral column indicates that it retained a similar shape and moved similarly to its archaeocete ancestors.
A study found that the general public's limited understanding of human anatomy can impact the success of health screening campaigns targeting specific organs. The research revealed a surprising eagerness among the public to learn about anatomy, despite their knowledge gaps.
Researchers developed a 3D spatial visualization tool to understand the effects of chemicals on diseased organs in context of microbes. The tool helps advance targeted drug delivery for cystic fibrosis and other conditions where medications struggle to penetrate, revealing new insights into microbial anatomy.
The study found that the world's 'better' countries, with greater access to healthcare, experience much higher rates of cancer incidence than the world's 'worse off' countries. The rate of most cancers in the top 10 best countries was greater than in the 10 worst countries.
A 35-million-year-old salamander fossil from France has yielded a unique glimpse into the life of an ancient creature. Researchers have successfully imaged the internal anatomy of the specimen using advanced x-ray imaging techniques, revealing that it fed on frogs - a rare food source for salamanders.
Agnostus pisiformis, a small but well-preserved trilobite-like arthropod, has been used to create detailed sculptures revealing its complete anatomy. The fossil provides valuable insights into ancient life and ecosystems, shedding light on the ecology and mode of life of this extinct species.
Fossil discoveries of Maiopatagium furculiferum and Vilevolodon diplomylos reveal ancient gliding behavior among extinct mammalian ancestors. These Jurassic mammals lived 100 million years before modern mammal fliers, with adaptations allowing them to thrive in a dinosaur-dominated landscape.
In a new study published in Scientific Reports, researchers at Brown University found that guppy moms in low-predation areas (LP) produce larger offspring with more mature internal anatomy, including wider mouth joints and harder heads. This adaptation enables LP guppies to better compete for food and survive in their environment.
MRI provides a comprehensive evaluation method for living liver donors, replacing invasive and time-consuming conventional methods. The use of updated MRI-based techniques improves image quality, enabling non-invasive assessment of hepatic steatosis and vascular anatomy.
Researchers at Wayne State University are exploring leukodystrophies and genetic Leukoencephalopathies, rare disorders affecting the central nervous system. They will use a zebrafish mutant line of Vacuolar Protein Sorting 11 to better understand the progression and model for a disease causing progressive vision loss.
A team of researchers has created behavior anatomy maps in fruit flies to understand how specific brain circuits generate aggression, wing extension, or grooming behaviors. The data will help neurobiologists assign behaviors to neurons and study brain circuits.
Researchers have documented a rare phenomenon where humpback whales flap their foreflippers like penguins or sea lions to move forward. This novel behavior helps scientists understand the abilities and anatomy of these mysterious animals.
A rare fossil of Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi has revealed the animal's complete skeleton, providing a clear idea of its anatomy and probable lifestyle. The species is thought to have been adapted for life on land, contradicting earlier assumptions that it was aquatic.
Researchers at the University of Rochester discovered a process where wasps co-opt single copy genes to take on new functions, including in their venom glands and other parts of their anatomy.
A new fossil discovery challenges our understanding of the early evolution of tetrapods, revealing a fish-like creature with a snake-like exterior. The Lethiscus stocki fossil shows immediate and dramatic evolutionary experimentation, dropping its position on the 'family tree' and impacting evolutionary biology.
Researchers at the University of Missouri developed 3D models of the American alligator's skull using cutting-edge imaging tools. The models accurately predict bite forces, enabling scientists to study the origins and movements of extinct species.
Scientists develop a new method for identifying palm species in the Neotropical genus Syagrus by analyzing the first few millimeters of the leaflet margin. This technique is useful when other morphological characteristics are unclear, providing a reliable alternative for species identification.
Researchers used MRIs to analyze infant brain connectivity and synchronize brain regions. The study found that differences in these connections at six months could predict autism diagnoses at two years old, with the machine learning classifier correctly identifying 81% of babies who developed autism.
The Human Cell Atlas is using sequencing technology to redefine every cell in the body. The platform will allow scientists to share and analyze vast amounts of diverse information generated by researchers across academia and industry.
For patients undergoing intestinal or multi-organ transplantation, closing the abdominal wall poses a difficult surgical challenge. Total abdominal wall transplantation provides an alternative for abdominal closure in these complex cases, according to a state-of-the-art approach presented in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
The study reveals that bioelectric patterns can override the default body shape called for by a genome, allowing researchers to edit the target morphology of an animal with a wild-type genomic sequence. This work provides clues about why certain individuals have different biological outcomes when exposed to the same treatment as others.
The world's first computerized tomography (CT) images of biological tissue using protons have been produced, revolutionizing Proton Therapy for cancer treatment. This breakthrough enables detailed three-dimensional images to be created, allowing for more accurate targeting of tumors and reduced radiation exposure.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology has made the first detailed map of the brain regions in amphioxus, a fish-like marine chordate closely related to vertebrates. The findings challenge prevailing ideas about brain formation and suggest that the vertebrate brain evolved from two initial regions rather than three.
A new study examining the muscles of bonobos found they are more closely related to humans than common chimpanzees. This is the first study to compare the anatomy of the three species, providing evidence for a possible link between bonobos and human ancestors.
Researchers used 3D printing to create a model of a patient's lower spine, allowing for successful insertion of a catheter for spinal cord stimulation. The technique may provide additional information to improve access in cases where standard approaches prove difficult.
A team of researchers at Duke University created a cartilage-mimicking material that can be 3D-printed to match the strength and elasticity of human cartilage, potentially easing damaged knees. The new material is custom-shaped to each patient's anatomy, providing improved shock absorption and reducing pain.
Researchers at New York Institute of Technology found that the radial artery may be useful for assessing heart disease risk, as it exhibits positive correlations with key risk factors. This discovery could lead to a new way to measure systemic atherosclerosis and improve cardiovascular health monitoring.
The American Association of Anatomists (AAA) has honored several individuals with lifetime achievement awards for their outstanding contributions to the field of anatomy. Wojciech Pawlina received the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award, while H. Joseph Yost was awarded the Henry Gray Scientific Achievement Award for his groundbrea...
The American Association of Anatomists has awarded three young investigators for groundbreaking research in cell biology, comparative neuroanatomy, and developmental biology. Maria Barna, Gloria Brar, and Shigeki Watanabe have made significant contributions to biomedical science through their research.
Researchers will create a software program that integrates MRI scans with navigational systems to build personalized 3-D maps of brain functions and anatomy.
The American Association of Anatomists has launched a new Virtual Microscopy Database to share high-quality digital tissue slides for education, research, and scholarship. The database was created to address the limitations of existing digital slide collections and provides a centralized repository for anatomy and histology scholars.
Researchers suggest that Michelangelo's famous chapel contains hidden symbols associated with female reproductive organs, such as the uterus and fallopian tubes. The study, published in Clinical Anatomy, provides a previously unavailable interpretation of one of Michelangelo's major works.
A new tyrannosaur species, Daspletosaurus horneri, has been discovered with an unusual mode of evolution called anagenesis. The research reveals a complex sensory web derived from the trigeminal nerve, similar to humans, and a lipless mask of large scales covering its face.
The study identified correlations between gene data and brain activity during memory processing, providing new insights into human memory. The researchers found that certain genes are distinct from those previously correlated with other types of cognitive processing and resting state fMRI activity.
A new study confirms the existence of 'living fossils' by measuring evolutionary rates in the tuatara, a reptile that has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. The research found that the tuatara's anatomy is remarkably conservative and shows slow evolution compared to its fossil relatives.
Scientists discovered that buttercup petals contain a one-cell thick epidermis with a yellow pigment, which acts as an optical film reflecting light. The starch layer also scatters light, enriching the flower's bright yellow color. This complex anatomy produces a glossy sheen and advantages pollination and seed maturation.
Researchers at KFU's bionanotechnology lab used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to create 3D images of nematode cuticles. The study revealed new insights into the surface anatomy of Caenorhabditis elegans, a widely used model organism in genetics and biology research.