Eur J Anat, 10 (3): 97-100 (2006)

Application of stained blood cells for the differentiation of arteries and nerves in cadavers

Makvandi M., Javadnia F.

Microbiology and Anatomy Department, Joundi Shapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran; Department of Microbiology, Joundi Shapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran

ABSTRACT The demonstration of the functional arteries to first year medical students in the dissection room is very important, but after cadaver fixation with formalin and other preserving materials the arteries will be empty and the fixative material will take the place of blood. Thus, the arteries will be colorless and students will find it hard to differentiate between arteries and nerves. The aim of this study was to stain arteries and differentiate them from nerves in cadavers by means of an easy method, the use of stained blood cells. Whole blood cells (packed cells) were initially treated with a 1% glutaraldehyde solution, washed with PBS and then stained with safranin. 10 ml of stained blood cells was injected into the internal iliac artery of the cadaver. The stained blood cells injected into the internal iliac artery differentiated the internal pudendal arteries from the pudendal nerve and the inferior rectal artery from the inferior rectal nerve. The preparation of stained blood cells and their application could be used by all medical and dental students to facilitate learning of the functional arteries.

Keywords: formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, anatomical variation, artery, article, blood cell, controlled study, forensic identification, functional assessment, human, internal iliac artery, microscopy, morphology, nerve cell, staining