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.

In this paper we dissected 50 human hearts obtained from the Department for Anatomy and Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicne, Sarajevo. Our interest was to show frequency of myocardial bridging on human heart coronary artery branches, their localisation and dimensions. Cross sections of coronary arteries segments in area of bridges, proximal and distal to it, were taken out from hearts on which dissection method showed presence of myocardial bridging of the coronary artery branches. Cuts were made 5microm-tick and coloured by Hematoxylin-eosine, Elastica Van Giesson, and Ladewig after having been fitted into paraffin wax. Preparations were behold mocroscopically and flow direction of myocardial bridge muscle fibres was followed regarding the artery wall, and it was analysed artery wall structure in the myocardial bridge area, proximal and distal to the bridge. Myocardial bridges werw found in 42% examined cases, and with the most frequent localisation on ramus interventricularis anterior (34%). Atherosclerotic change in the artery segments proximal to the myocardial bridge was detected by the histolopathological method and its intensity depended on the myocardial bridge length and years of age. In the area of the myocardial bridge, besided insignificant diffuse intima, there were not any other histopathological changes that would indicate an atherosclerotic process.

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.

In this work we have analyzed 512 coronary angiograms that were done during 2003 year at the Clinic for heart diseases and rheumatism of the University of Sarajevo Clinic Center (UCCS) and we have dissected 20 human hearts at the Institute for Anatomy. We strived to prove frequency of the muscular bridges on branches of the coronary artery, their localization and influence on the arteriosclerotic changes. Using coronary angiography method we consluded that the presence of the muscular bridges in observed population in 4.88% of cases, with the most frequent localization on the anterior interventricular branch (ramus interventricularis anterior). By dissection method the muscular bridges have been found in 55% of cases and the most frequent localization was on the anterior interventricular branch and branches of the right coronary artery. Smaller frequency of the muscular bridges, shown by the angiography method, can be explained by the fact that thick muscular bridges perform weak compression and because of that minimal systolic reduction of the lumen which can not be noticed by the angiography. The muscular bridges are four times frequent on males and they are the most frequent in the age group from 40 to 50 years. In the 88% of patients with the muscular bridges were found arteriosclerotic changes localized proximately from muscular bridge.

In this paper was examined the occurrence frequently more of one kidney artery of the aortic origin. The examinations were performed on the 213 angiograms of the kidney artery by the method of the unselective renal angiography per Seldinger, in both sexes, of the various life ages. On the analyzed angiograms was the presence of these arteries in 25.82% of cases. They were more often at the right side in 49.09%, than on the left side in 36.36%, while their both side presence was found in 14.55%. Although are these arteries more frequently in male persons, a though the sex cannot be statistically significant the parameter for the determination the frequency of their occurrence. In the relation to the backbone column the level of the exit of this arteries from the aorta is the greatest number of cases between the trunk of the first and third loins vertebra (L1-L3) and all were directed according to the medial edge of the corresponding kidney. According the place of the entrance in the kidney can be differed three types of these arteries: the artery, and upper and low polar artery. On the analyzed angiograms most often were found the hilar and lower polar artery, while the upper polar artery was present in only seven cases of the total number of the analyzed angiograms. We consider that the recognition of the supernumerary arteries of the kidney there is both anatomically and the significance in the surgical and radiological practice and their best identification achieves by the application of the angiographic radiology methods.

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.