Articles

Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.

237 results found
Article

Appendix

The appendix or vermiform appendix (plural: appendices) is a blind muscular tube arising from the cecum, the first part of the large bowel. Gross anatomy The appendix arises from the posteromedial surface of the cecum, approximately 2-3 cm inferior to the ileocecal valve, where the three longi...
Article

Gastric lymph node stations

The gastric lymph node stations were originally divided into 16 groups, as proposed by the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer in 1973. Gross anatomy There are three major groups of lymph drainage from the stomach, namely, left gastric, gastroepiploic, and pyloric nodes 4, as shown in...
Article

Wandering spleen

Wandering spleen is a rare condition in which the spleen migrates from its usual anatomical position, commonly to the lower abdomen or pelvis. Epidemiology Wandering spleen is rare, with a reported incidence of <0.5%. Diagnosis is most commonly made between the ages of 20-40 years and is more...
Article

Celiac plexus

The celiac plexus (plural: plexuses) is an autonomic nerve plexus and ganglia in the upper abdomen. It is the largest major autonomic plexus. Summary location: the ganglion and plexus lie close to the celiac trunk origin: preganglionic sympathetic fibers via the greater and lesser splanchnic...
Article

Celiac artery

The celiac artery, also known as the celiac axis or celiac trunk, is a major splanchnic artery in the abdominal cavity supplying the foregut. It arises from the abdominal aorta and commonly gives rise to three branches: left gastric artery, splenic artery, and common hepatic artery.  Gross anat...
Article

Viscera

The viscera (singular: viscus) refers to all the internal organs within the major cavities of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis. Therefore it does not include organs of the CNS, head and neck or musculoskeletal compartments nor does it encompass non-internal organs (e.g. the skin) 1. Splanchnology...
Article

Labeled imaging anatomy cases

This article lists a series of labeled imaging anatomy cases by body region and modality. Brain CT head: non-contrast axial CT head: non-contrast coronal CT head: non-contrast sagittal CT head: non-contrast axial with clinical questions CT head: angiogram axial CT head: angiogram coronal ...
Article

Situs inversus

Situs inversus, (rare plural: sitūs inversi) short form of the Latin “situs inversus viscerum”, is a term used to describe the inverted position of chest and abdominal organs. Terminology The condition is called situs inversus totalis when there is a total transposition of abdominal and thorac...
Article

Renal fascia

The renal fascia is a dense, elastic connective tissue sheath that envelops each kidney and adrenal gland together with a layer of surrounding perirenal fat forming the perirenal space. It is a multi-laminated structure which is fused posteromedially with the muscular fasciae of the psoas and q...
Article

Esophagus

The esophagus (plural: esophagi or esophaguses) is a muscular tube that conveys food and fluids from the pharynx to the stomach. It forms part of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Gross anatomy The esophagus is 23-37 cm long with a diameter of 1-2 cm and is divided into three parts: cervical:...
Article

Pancreatic ducts

The exocrine pancreas drains into the gastrointestinal tract via the main and accessory pancreatic ducts. Several anatomical variations of the typical ductal drainage pattern exist, reflecting variations in the embryological development and fusion of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds 13,14....
Article

Common bile duct

The common bile duct (CBD), which is sometimes simply known as the bile duct, is formed by the union of the cystic duct and common hepatic duct (CHD). Terminology On ultrasound, it is not always possible to confidently see where the cystic duct enters the common hepatic duct to form the common...
Article

Diaphragm

The diaphragm is the dome-shaped skeletal muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity, enclosing the inferior thoracic aperture. Terminology On chest imaging, in particular chest radiography, an imaginary anteroposterior midline divides the diaphragm into two halves, fo...
Article

Annular pancreas

Annular pancreas is a morphological anomaly that results in pancreatic tissue completely or incompletely encircling the duodenum. This condition can cause duodenal obstruction and is therefore important to recognize, as radiologists are frequently the first to make the diagnosis. Epidemiology ...
Article

Pharyngeal constrictor muscles

The pharyngeal constrictor muscles are a group of involuntary muscles attached to the pharyngobasilar fascia that sequentially constrict the pharynx to propel food into the esophagus during swallowing. Gross anatomy The group comprises three circular muscles: superior pharyngeal constrictor ...
Article

Gallbladder agenesis

Agenesis of the gallbladder describes the rare congenital absence of the gallbladder. Epidemiology overall incidence is estimated at <0.1% (range 0.04-0.1%) gender:  reported 3:1 female predominance of symptomatic cases equivalent gender distribution in autopsy cases Associations Gallblad...
Article

Meandering main pancreatic duct

Meandering main pancreatic duct (MMPD) denotes a main pancreatic duct that drains normally into the major papilla but performs a hairpin turn (reverse Z-type) or loop (loop-type) in the pancreatic head, in contradistinction to the smooth curvature seen in most cases. These ductal variants are f...
Article

Rectum

The rectum is the last part of the large intestine. It is located within the pelvis and is the continuation of the sigmoid colon after the rectosigmoid junction and continues as the anal canal at the anorectal angle created by puborectalis.  Gross anatomy At the level of the S3 vertebral body,...
Article

Pancreas

The pancreas (plural: pancreata) is an unpaired, mostly retroperitoneal organ that has endocrine and exocrine functions, with a role in glucose metabolism and digestion. Gross anatomy Location The pancreas is located at approximately the L1-L2 vertebral level in the anterior pararenal space o...
Article

Epiploic foramen

The epiploic foramen, also called the foramen of Winslow, is a small vertical passage between the greater sac (peritoneal cavity proper) and the lesser sac (omental bursa), allowing communication between these two spaces. The foramen is eloquently described as the opening to the lesser sac loca...

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