The human hart is in most cases vascularized by two coronary arteries, the right and the left one. Supernumerary or added coronary arteries are also present sometimes. The aim of this paper is to ascertain presence of supernumerary coronary arteries that arise directly from aorta, their frequency, flow, way of branching, and possibly their anastomoses with other coronary arteries. Out of 25 hearts, examined by dissection, 8 of them (32%) had conal artery. According to our opinion, the most suitable term for this artery, in order to differ it clearly from the conal branch of the right coronary artery, is third coronary artery. One heart (4%) had four coronary arteries. Both supernumerary coronary arteries arose from the right aortic sinus. The third coronary artery represents a significant way of collateral coronary circulation, as it frequently anastomoses with anterior interventricular branch.

The aim of the investigations was to demonstrate different types of collaterals of coronary arteries using the method of coronary angiography and injection-corrosion method. The investigations were carried out on 30 human cadaveric hearts from the Department of Anatomy, and 30 angiograms of patients from the Cardiology Department of Clinics Centre in Sarajevo. Clinical investigations were retrospective and prospective on patients that were treated in hospital, and on patients that just arrived in hospital (based on findings of coronary angiography). The results show the existence of different types of collaterals: intercoronary and intracoronary. We established collaterals in a case with occlusion of the right coronary artery and left coronary artery in which better development of collaterals was established. Our patients were classified in two groups: 1) Patients with good collaterals and good left ventricular function; 2) Patients with good collaterals and impaired left ventricular function. On the anatomical material we found different types of collaterals as well. Our results show that coronary angiography is useful diagnostic method for the demonstration of coronary collaterals.

Proficiency in the anatomy of coronary arteries and their variations is significant for proper interpretation of the coronary angiographies, assessment of the complexity and result of the coronary insufficiency as well as surgical myocardium revascularization. The objective of this study is anatomy-radiology research of the methods of branching the main trunk of left coronary artery and to prove importance of the diagonal branch (ramus diagonalis) existence in the conditions of coronary insufficiency. In this study we have analyzed 100 coronary angiographies done at the Clinic for Heart Diseases and Rheumatism of the Clinic Center of University of Sarajevo and dissected 20 human hearts from the Institute of Anatomy. In our study we have come upon two methods of branching of main trunk of left coronary artery (bifurcation and trifurcation). By the method of the angiography we have found the bifurcation in 71% of cases while 65% of cases were proved by the dissection method. Trifurcation has been discovered in 29% of cases of analyzed angiographies i.e. 35% of cases of dissected hearts. We believe that third terminal branch of the left coronary artery should be marked as ramus diagonalis. This branch, including its anastomoses, presents important pattern of the collateral blood flow, which has special meaning, under conditions of coronary insufficiency.

Variations of the human coronary arteries have always attracted the attention of many researchers. A review of the literature shows that variations can cause ischemic heart disease or sudden cardiac death. The aim of the investigations was to examine the existence and clinical significance of variations of the human coronary arteries. Special attention has been focused on myocardial bridging of the coronary arteries and coronary arteriovenous fistula. Our investigations were carried out on the human hearts at the Department of Anatomy and on patients at the Cardiology Department of University Clinical Centre in Sarajevo. Using the method of dissection and coronary angiography we established the existence of variations of the coronary arteries (variations of origin, distribution) on the human hearts without macroscopic visible changes as well as on patients with ischemic changes (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, congenital cardiovascular malformation etc.). We established the higher incidence of ischemic changes on patients with variations of coronary arteries.

We used injection and corrosion method to study path, caliber and branching of anterior and middle cerebral artery, which supplies anterior two thirds of medial and external surface of cerebral hemispheres and associated subcortical structures. When we studied our specimens, we observed that internal carotid artery always bifurcates and gives anterior and middle cerebral artery. Precommunicant segment of anterior cerebral artery has variable appearance. In 65 percent this path of anterior cerebral artery is arch shaped with convexity laterally and forward, but in 44 percent it is straight and oblique in direction. We observer that in 1 percent of cases precommunicant segment of anterior cerebral artery has wavey path. In one percent of the cases anterior third of pericallosal artery is branching from anterior communicating artery. This third pericallosal artery is smaller than the other pair of pericallosal arteries branching from anterior cerebral artery. Initial segment of middle cerebral artery(pars sphenoidalis) is 2.5 cm long. In 70 percent of cases terminal part of sphenidal segment of middle cerebral artery bifurcates, in 30 percent of cases we studied this segment trifucates. Insular segment of the middle cerebral artery branches into several segments which are narrower. When we studied our specimens we found one rare variation branching from middle cerebral artery where it bifurcated into anterior smaller and posterior larger branch, than they divide into multiple smaller branches in periinsular segment.

We have investigated the intramural blood vessels of the A-V segment in the conductive system of 20 human hearts using the method of light microscopy. The results of our study have shown that the A-V segment of the conductive heart muscles in human hearts has an abundant vascularisation. We have found the greatest density of the intramural net in the dorsal part of the A-V node; this density of blood vessels decreased toward the Hiss' bundle. After comparing these results with the earlier findings in the study of the intramural net in the S-A system we have found that A-V segment of the conductive heart system has a poorer blood supply in regard to S-A system. We have also found that the intramural net of blood vessels is weaker in the adjacent ventricular parts and in the interventricular septum. It cannot be said that there exists any surface vascular zone subepicardial, middle and deep sub-endocardiac--in the A-V segment of the conductive system of human heart.

Vascularisation of the conductive heart musculature was investigated by means of the serial coronorography and injective-corrosive method in bovine and canine hearts. The S-A system of the bovine heart was in 50% of the investigated hearts was supplied by the anterior left by the anterior right sinus artery (Arteria nodus sinuatrialis anterior sinistra), and in 30% of the cases by the anterior right sinus artery (Arteria nodus sinuatrialis anterior dextra). Both anterior sinus arteries vascularize the S-A bovine heart system in 20% of the investigated cases. The S-A canine heart system, in 50% of the investigated cases, receive vascularization from the anterior left sinus artery, from the right anterior artery in 40% of the cases, and only in 10% of the investigated hearts is the S-A system supplied by the right and left posterior sinus arteries (Arteria nodus sinuatrialis posterior dextra et sinistra). The S-A system vascularisation of the conductive heart musculature is not conditional by the type of the arterial vascularisation of the heart.

The effects of pinealectomy on the dynamics of morphometric changes in interdigitating cells(IDC) of rat thymus were investigated. The experimental animals were divided into two groups: an experimental one and the control group. Animals from the first group were subjected to pinealectomy while the second group were treated in the same manner, but without the removal of the pineal gland. All the animals were sacrificed 60. days following the surgery. The thymus tissue were fixed by means of immersion and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Using Weibl's multipurpose test system and multilavel sampling technique on electron micrographs, the nuclear volume density(Vvn) and cytoplasmic volume density(Vvc) were calculated. At the different magnification level established the surface density(Sv) of nucleoid and cell membranes as wel as surface density of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial membranes (Svm) and their volume density. Our analysis has confirmed statistically significant increase in Vv of the nucleus of pinealectomized rats. The average volumen of IDC has been also increased after pinealectomy as well as Vv, Nv and Sv of the mitochondria. The present findings seem to support the concept of inhibitory action of pineal gland on thymus IDC.

We investigated by means of coronarography and dissection the arterial vascularization of the human heart in relation to the type of coronary ramification in 200 human hearts taken at random from males and females between 20 and 85 years of age. Examination of the selective coronarography findings was subsequently performed by means of careful dissection of the injected arteries and their branches in order to compare the results obtained with coronarographic findings in living human beings.