International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 1–8

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/001023

Review

Title: Can Mechanical Loading of the Spinal Dura Influence Cerebrospinal Fluid Movement?

Names of Authors: John Sharkey¹*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Irish College of Osteopathic Medicine, National Training Centre, Dublin, Ireland. E-mail: john.sharkey@ntc.ie | ORCID: 0000-0001-6947-3170.

Abstract:
During a fresh human cadaver dissection around 2002, the spinal dura was opened along its length. Light hand pressure over the sacrum produced a visible wave that travelled cranially through fluid in the exposed canal. No pressure, displacement or flow was measured. Opening the dura also changed the conditions that govern fluid movement in life. The observation therefore raises a question; it cannot answer it. At the upper end of the canal, anatomical studies have traced connective tissue from the suboccipital muscles to the cervical dura. Fibres from the nuchal ligament also reach the dura at C1–C2. Their continuity offers a plausible route by which movement could alter the dural boundary, but the size of any effect during life remains unknown. This hypothesis-led mini-review examines that anatomy alongside measurements of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement and proposes experiments with the dural sac intact, including simultaneous recording of respiration, pulse and pressure. In the anatomical study considered here, Zheng and colleagues examined 30 human head and neck specimens: 20 by dissection and ten as P45 plastinated sections. They identified a dense band within the nuchal ligament, which they called the “to be named ligament.” That study did not measure cerebrospinal fluid flow.

Keywords: Myodural bridge, rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, vertebrodural ligament, cerebrospinal fluid, craniosacral therapy, fascia.

Abbreviations: CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; OCI, obliquus capitis inferior; RCPma, rectus capitis posterior major; RCPmi, rectus capitis posterior minor; TBNL, to be named ligament; VDL, vertebrodural ligament.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 06, 2026; Revised: October 26, 2026; Accepted: November 01, 2026; Published: November 12, 2026.

Citation: Sharkey J. Can Mechanical Loading of the Spinal Dura Influence Cerebrospinal Fluid Movement? International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 2026; 15(11): 1–8. doi:10.46882/2026/IJAP/001023

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 1–5

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/001032

Full Length Research Paper

Title: The Impact of Varied Sitting Postures on Pulmonary Function Volumes and Capacities in Academic Students

Names of Authors: Baghery Hojat¹, Esmaeilzadeh Mahdi¹*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ Department of Basic Sciences, Shirvan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shirvan, Iran.

Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate changes that occur in pulmonary function when postural changes in the sagittal plane are made in a seated position in students. This cross-sectional analytical study was done randomly on 20 boys from Iran, and the results of a forced expiratory maneuver in these young healthy subjects were compared according to body posture. Twenty able-bodied student boys (age 13.5 ± 1.09 yr, height 158.25 ± 5.65 cm, and weight 50.45 ± 7.02 kg) participated in this study. Standard spirometric measurements including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were taken for each subject in each of 3 sitting postures (normal, slumped, and kyphotic) and a standing posture. A repeated-measures ANOVA and a paired t-test indicated that FVC and FEV1 values in the standing posture were significantly higher than in the sitting postures. In slumped sitting, FVC, FEV1, and PEF significantly decreased compared to the other sitting postures. However, there was no significant difference for FVC, PEF, and FEV1 between the normal and kyphotic sitting postures. The results showed that FVC, FEV1, and PEF, as important indices in the health of pulmonary system function, were affected by sitting posture, particularly the slumped sitting posture. Consequently, students should prevent slumped sitting postures.

Keywords: Pulmonary function, sitting, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, peak expiratory flow.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: April 12, 2026; Revised: May 20, 2026; Accepted: June 08, 2026; Published: November 01, 2026.

Citation: Hojat B, Mahdi E. The Impact of Varied Sitting Postures on Pulmonary Function Volumes and Capacities in Academic Students. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 2026; 15(11): 1–5. doi:10.46882/2026/IJAP/001032

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 1–4

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/001031

Full Length Research Paper

Title: Reforming Respiratory Physiology Education in Tanzania: Aligning Medical Curricula with Primary Care Needs

Names of Authors: Yohana Mashalla¹, Amos Massele¹, Marina Njelekela², Simon Mamuya²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
² Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Abstract:
Effective management of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by General Practitioners is likely to be compromised by respiratory physiology training that has a main focus on acute respiratory diseases with high mortality and little focus on empowering medical and nursing students and practitioners on respiratory care. Results of this study indicate that lack of responsiveness of respiratory physiology courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students, a lack of structured in-service training programmes on respiratory care, and inadequate training facilities for lung function assessment are key challenges to the medical schools. It is concluded that a concerted effort is required through global partnerships to enhance training and re-training of general practitioners and nurses on primary respiratory care and to make accessible relevant resources needed for building competencies in lung function assessment and the interpretation of results.

Keywords: Respiratory care, respiratory care practitioners, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: July 10, 2026; Revised: August 22, 2026; Accepted: September 15, 2026; Published: November 01, 2026.

Citation: Mashalla Y, Massele A, Njelekela M, Mamuya S. Reforming Respiratory Physiology Education in Tanzania: Aligning Medical Curricula with Primary Care Needs. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 2026; 15(11): 1–4. doi:10.46882/2026/IJAP/001031

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 1–7

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/001030

Full Length Research Paper

Title: Upregulation of the Arabidopsis thaliana Thylakoid Lumen 18.3 Protein Gene During Dehydration

Names of Authors: Mohammad Israil Ansari¹,², Tsan-Piao Lin¹*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow-226 010, India.

Abstract:
Selaginella tamariscina is a resurrection plant and we have cloned several genes for dehydration in S. tamariscina through differential display. One of the genes (DQ471954) has 68% homology with the Arabidopsis thaliana thylakoid lumen 18.3 kDa protein (TLP18.3) gene. This gene has a domain of unknown function (DUF477) which is a family of uncharacterized proteins. The expression pattern of the A. thaliana TLP18.3 reveals that mRNA expression and protein accumulation are up-regulated during dehydration. The protein coding region of the A. thaliana TLP18.3 gene consists of 3 exons and 4 introns encoding 285 amino acids with a putative chloroplast transit peptide (cTP) target sequence at the N-terminal. GFP fusion protein with the N-terminal 80 amino acid residue reveals that this fusion protein is localized into the chloroplast. Our data strongly suggest that the A. thaliana TLP18.3 gene plays an important role in the dehydration process.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana, dehydration, gene regulation, TLP18.3, thylakoid lumen.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 24, 2026; Revised: September 28, 2026; Accepted: October 15, 2026; Published: November 01, 2026.

Citation: Ansari MI, Lin TP. Upregulation of the Arabidopsis thaliana Thylakoid Lumen 18.3 Protein Gene During Dehydration. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 2026; 15(11): 1–7. doi:10.46882/2026/IJAP/001030

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 244–252

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/001028

Research Article

Title: Electromyographic and Morphological Evaluation of the Palmaris Longus Muscle Variant and Its Association with Median Nerve Compression

Names of Authors: R. E. Dubois¹, S. M. Patel², O. A. Sanusi³*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.
² Department of Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
³ Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract:
The palmaris longus muscle is a superficial flexor of the forearm known for its high rate of evolutionary agenesis and structural variations, including duplicated, reversed, or hypertrophied muscle bellies. These muscular anomalies can reduce the available space within the proximal forearm and carpal tunnel, compressing the median nerve. This study combined cadaveric dissection and surface electromyography (sEMG) to examine the morphological variations of the palmaris longus and evaluate their functional association with median nerve compression. Dissection of 100 formalin-fixed upper limbs revealed palmaris longus variants in 6 extremities (6.0%). A reversed palmaris longus (muscle belly located distally near the wrist) was identified in 2 limbs (2.0%). In the clinical phase, eight symptomatic patients diagnosed with a reversed or hypertrophied palmaris longus via musculoskeletal ultrasound underwent sEMG and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) testing. The sEMG evaluation during sustained grip tasks demonstrated a high root-mean-square (RMS) voltage over the anomalous muscle distal belly, which correlated with a significant reduction in median nerve sensory conduction velocity across the wrist joint (38.5 ± 3.4 m/s vs. 54.2 ± 4.1 m/s in normal controls; p < 0.01). These anatomical and neurophysiological findings demonstrate that structural palmaris longus variants can cause mechanical median nerve entrapment, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical carpal tunnel syndrome.

Keywords: Palmaris longus muscle, Anatomical variant, Median nerve compression, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Electromyography.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 02, 2026; Revised: October 18, 2026; Accepted: November 05, 2026; Published: November 26, 2026.

Citation: Dubois RE, Patel SM, Sanusi OA. Electromyographic and Morphological Evaluation of the Palmaris Longus Muscle Variant and Its Association with Median Nerve Compression. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 2026; 15(11): 244–252. doi:10.46882/2026/IJAP/001028

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | Vol. 15, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 253–261

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJAP/001029

Research Article

Title: Histological Profiling of Cerebellar Purkinje Cell Remodeling in Mice Following Chronic Intake of High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Names of Authors: F. G. Santos¹, H. I. Takahashi², E. S. Williams³*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ Department of Morphology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Department of Anatomy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
³ Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom.

Abstract:
Diets rich in high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are linked to systemic metabolic syndrome, central neuroinflammation, and cognitive deficits. However, the specific impacts of prolonged HFCS consumption on the cellular architecture of the cerebellum remain less understood. This study quantified the effects of chronic HFCS intake on the cellular density and dendritic arborization of cerebellar Purkinje cells using a mouse model. Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into two groups (n = 12): a Control group (standard chow and tap water) and an HFCS group (diet supplemented with a 15% HFCS solution in drinking water) for 14 consecutive weeks. Cerebellar tissues were sectioned and processed for Nissl staining, Calbindin-D28k immunofluorescence, and Sholl analysis to map dendritic complexity. Quantitative evaluation revealed significant Purkinje cell degeneration in the HFCS-exposed cohort. The linear density of Purkinje cells along the ganglionic layer of the cerebellar cortex decreased significantly (14.2 ± 1.1 cells/mm vs. 21.4 ± 1.6 cells/mm in controls; p < 0.01). Sholl analysis of Calbindin-positive cells demonstrated a significant reduction in dendritic branching intersections (12.4 ± 1.5 vs. 22.8 ± 2.1 in controls; p < 0.05) and a reduction in total dendritic length. These structural alterations show that chronic, high-dose consumption of HFCS induces Purkinje cell loss and dendritic tree remodeling, which may impair fine motor coordination and cerebellar cognitive loops.

Keywords: Cerebellum, Purkinje cells, High-fructose corn syrup, Calbindin, Dendritic remodeling.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 05, 2026; Revised: October 20, 2026; Accepted: November 08, 2026; Published: November 29, 2026.

Citation: Santos FG, Takahashi HI, Williams ES. Histological Profiling of Cerebellar Purkinje Cell Remodeling in Mice Following Chronic Intake of High-Fructose Corn Syrup. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 2026; 15(11): 253–261. doi:10.46882/2026/IJAP/001029