Medical Anatomy Commons^™

The Impact Of Gastric Sleeve And Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass On Chief Cell Function And Protein Digestion In Obese Patients, Garikoitz Mikel Gainza

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Obesity has become one of the largest global health concerns of the 21^st century, correlating with numerous associated diseases. To help address the growing prevalence and burden of obesity, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have become two commonly performed surgical procedures done to promote weight loss by altering the anatomical structure of the stomach and surrounding organs of the gastrointestinal system. Although the benefits of improved metabolism linked to these surgical procedures are well studied, their impact on the physiology of gastric cells, and more specifically chief cells as they relate to protein digestion post-surgery, is yet to …

Bodies Of Knowledge: The Accuracy Of Medical Anatomical Drawings From The 14th To The 18th Century, Marina G. Mitchell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

From the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries, European anatomical illustration underwent major transformations in response to changing scientific methods, technologies, and visual conventions, reflecting critical transitions in anatomical history. Scientific evolution allowed these images to achieve increasing structural precision and internal detail, though they frequently diverged from anatomical forms as they are understood today. This study examines how anatomical inaccuracies across five centuries emerged not from ignorance, but from deliberate mediation between purpose, observation, pedagogy, artistic convention, and cultural ideology. Through close analysis of works in visual comparison to their modern counterparts, this thesis identifies specific deviations from the twenty-first …

Analyzing Early Medieval Perspectives Of Fetal Development, Nivedha Srinivasan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines early medieval perspectives of fetal development by analyzing two manuscripts: British Library, Cotton Tiberius A III and Leiden University, Vossianus lat. Q69. This study will investigate how knowledge of pregnancy was shared throughout England before the establishment of universities. Interest in medieval reproductive language has piqued in importance in recent years, especially due to modern legal debates surrounding reproductive rights. By examining descriptions of the nine months of fetal development in these two manuscripts, as well as in widely known earlier medical texts like Pliny’s Natural History and Vindicianus’ Gynaecia, this research explores how monastic writers in …

Effect Of Plant-Based Vs. Standard American Diet On Cardiovascular Parameters In College Students, Timothy J. Horanic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if …

The Fascia Iliaca Regional Nerve Block Using Ultrasound And Landmark Technique: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination For Nurse Anesthetists, Braxton T. Beech, Parker F. Rigby

Doctoral Projects

The fascia iliaca block (FIB) is an effective regional anesthesia technique used in various clinical settings, including operating rooms, emergency departments, and pain management clinics. Despite its advantages in reducing postoperative complications and minimizing opioid use, FIB remains underutilized among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), primarily due to limited exposure and training. This doctoral project examines the implementation of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as an educational intervention to enhance CRNA proficiency in performing FIB using both ultrasound-guided and landmark techniques.

A pre- and post-test study design was conducted with 18 CRNA participants attending a continuing education workshop. Demographic …

Evaluation Of The Usage And Effectiveness Of The Gross Anatomy Osteology E-Learning Module, Conor Young

Theses & Dissertations

Supplementary online learning modalities have reached near ubiquity in graduate health sciences education, yet evidence about their effectiveness remains mixed. The Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy at UNMC recently introduced their own bespoke electronic study platform called the Osteology e-Learning Module to aid gross anatomy students in the study of osteology. To assess its effectiveness, osteology and whole gross lab practical exam scores were compared in four different content units across three school year cohorts of graduate students in the same gross anatomy class. A survey was also distributed to one cohort to capture subjective information about the …

Targeting Student Outcomes Through Implementation Of Laboratory Experiences In A First Year Medical Neuroanatomy Course, Grant Boxey

Anatomical Education Dissertations

The pillars of anatomical sciences, including neuroanatomy, have undergone massive shifts in their teaching methodologies in recent years. With the increased enrollment in graduate medical education, as well as the introduction of new technologies, the anatomical sciences have reformed the ways in which future healthcare practitioners learn. Among the challenges to neuroanatomical education have been reliable access to donor specimens, and a decrease in laboratory-based hours. This study evaluated the introduction of voluntary laboratory-based experiences within a first-year medical neuroanatomy course. The first research question evaluated the effect of hands-on laboratory experiences on examination performance between participants and non-participants. There …

The Impact Of An Iron-Rich Diet On Fatigue In Menstruating Women With Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency, Meagan Seraydar, Lauren Latimer, Sam Miragliatto

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Fatigue without diagnosed anemia is prevalent in menstruating women, with iron deficiency being a potential contributor. While iron supplementation is a standard intervention, dietary sources of iron may offer a sustainable alternative. This study aims to assess the impact of an iron-rich diet on fatigue levels in menstruating women. A 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, assigning participants to either an iron-rich diet group or a control group following their usual diet without specific iron recommendations. Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) at baseline, six weeks, and twelve weeks, alongside iron status biomarkers, including …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Optimizing Decision-Making In A Cerebral Palsy Model Using Reinforcement Learning, Richard Ampah

Pitzer Senior Theses

This study presents an original interdisciplinary investigation into how reinforcement learning (RL) can model motor and cognitive defects and potentially improve motor and cognitive functions in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), a non-progressive neurological disorder that impairs movement and adaptability. Integrating computational neuroscience and machine learning, the research applies policy gradient methods and Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) to simulate adaptive learning in agents with and without CP-related constraints.

The central aim is to compare the cumulative rewards of optimal policies, derived from value iteration, and human-like learning policies using the REINFORCE algorithm, both with and without the Bellman baseline. The …

Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination For First-Year Anesthesia Providers, Andrew Edwards, Jonathan Mardis

Doctoral Projects

The use of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) in anesthetic practice is an invaluable tool for anesthesia providers to implement into their daily practice. One of these regional techniques is the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) which has anesthetic implications in numerous surgical procedures including cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, thoracic wall, and chest wall procedures. Because of the novelty of this regional anesthetic technique, it is important to educate first-year anesthesia providers about the implications, skillset, and complications of the ESPB.

To bridge the gap between didactic knowledge and clinical practice in first-year anesthesia providers, an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) …

Addressing Healthcare Disparities Faced By Aging Down Syndrome Populations, Rhea Mistry

Pitzer Senior Theses

Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal genetic condition that impacts the development of the body and brain. The life expectancy of individuals with DS has drastically improved over the decades, increasing from 9 years in 1929 to 25 years in 1983 and further reaching 60 years by 2002. Individuals with DS face a variety of prominent co-occurring health conditions that are subject to change over time, including cognitive, visual, and hearing impairments, sleep apnea, cardiovascular defects, Down syndrome regression disorder, and dementia. Despite this increase in life span, DS is still most familiar to pediatric care providers, resulting in healthcare …

Understanding The Effects Of Hormone Treatments On The Transgender Singer: A Pedagogical Study And Voice Studio Guide, Erin M. Hannon

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Transitioning from one gender to another can be an arduous and emotionally charged experience, accompanied by many physical and mental transformations. The journey of self-discovery and vocal explorations is both unique and deeply personal. Modifications that emerge in an individual's vocal characteristics have a profound influence on their capacity to communicate and express themselves.

Transgender vocal students and professional singers must navigate the delicate balance between their vocal and gender identities while considering the possible risks of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy. Though these therapies may significantly alter one's appearance and overall well-being, they are also capable of causing notable declines …

Anatomy Of The Ankle And Ankle Injuries In Athletes, Isabelle G. West

Honors Capstones

The purpose of this project was to learn about the anatomy of the ankle joint, explore common ankle injuries in athletes, and research how they are treated overall and in a physical therapy setting. To do so, a dissection of the ankle joint was completed with Mrs. Kara Coffman-Rea in the cadaver lab as well as an exploration of plastinated models. Additionally, a literature review of current research on the ankle was completed. Though many structures of the ankle joint were identified through dissection, the focus of the literature review is on the structures of the lateral ankle and the …

Central Activation Of Orl-1 Receptors In Heart Failure Models, Jeffrey Angell

Theses & Dissertations

Heart failure is a prevalent and debilitating disease associated with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide and is the leading cause of death in the United States. While various therapeutic strategies have been developed and approved to manage heart failure, exploration of novel targets and mechanisms are essential for improving patient outcomes. This thesis investigates the therapeutic potential of the central activation of opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL-1) by nociceptin in a rodent heart failure model.

Furthermore, this study aims to elucidate the central mechanisms underlying nociceptin induced cardiovascular and renal effects in heart failure. This involves investigating neuronal pathways and …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Master's Theses

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

Development Of A Nurse Anesthesia Program Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Airway Examination Curriculum, Sarah Elyse Sandheinrich Butler, Colton Phillip Butler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Airway management is a critical and fundamental skill for anesthesia providers. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an up-and-coming assessment technique that can provide critical information about a patient’s airway anatomy and may increase patient safety during anesthesia care. As a result, understanding the appropriate POCUS equipment, techniques, findings, and clinical implications for airway examination can become essential for safe and effective anesthesia practice. This project aimed to develop a clinical airway POCUS examination curriculum with detailed instructions on all aspects of appropriate examination equipment, set-up, technique, and implications for findings. The team designed the curriculum to incorporate it into the host …

Clinical Procedure Training For Physician Assistants: An Evaluation Of Reported Exposure And Perception Of Comfort To Perform, Allison Martin

Anatomical Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine physician assistant (PA) students’ perceptions of clinical procedure training following completion of didactic and clinical phases within a single program based in eastern Tennessee. The cross-sectional study design utilized two survey instruments to record responses from PA students. Responses were gathered from one cohort following the clinical rotation training phase of their program and from a consecutive cohort prior to beginning rotation training.

Evidence among medical student populations suggest that exposure to common clinical procedures is declining and reports from students indicate lower confidence to perform common procedures. The PA profession has …

Cystic Duct Morphology And Heister Valves: A Cadaveric Study, Cierra R. Goerish

Theses & Dissertations

Continued occurrence of cholelithiasis, gallstones, commonly results in cholecystectomy, removal of the gallbladder. Having a comprehensive anatomical, histological, and physiological knowledge of the biliary apparatus is imperative in clinical medicine today. Additionally, the functionality of cystic duct (CD) Heister valves (HV) has been speculatory since being reported in 1732. This study summarizes the morphology, orientation, and variability of the gross biliary system and provides data to help justify HV functionality.

Cadaveric dissection was utilized for gross observation and analysis of the biliary system. The angulation of the CD was found primarily as an acute angle; however, obtuse angulation could be …

Autopsy V. Virtopsy: A New Approach For Postmortem Forensic Examination, Nicole Elaine Lawson

Honors Projects

Virtopsy as a potential new standard in forensic science investigation in the place of a conventional autopsy. In recent years there have been new advancements across the forensic field and in the scientific world as a whole. These advancements have changed many approaches bringing new capabilities and new challenges and pushback. This report takes a specific interest in the evolution of forensic autopsy. With improvements such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography scan (CT), X-Rays, and other approaches a new term and technique have been coined Virtopsy. As this new potential approach has come to light the resistance against …

Evaluation Of Neonatal Ankyloglossia, Ellen M. Ray

Dissertations

Problem Ankyloglossia occurs when the tongue cannot extend past the gums or lips due to frenulum restriction. In breast feeding, proper movement of the tongue around the nipple is hindered causing difficulty for the infant to obtain a proper latch. This may result in slow weight gain (SWG), failure to thrive (FTT), and dehydration due to poor milk production. Evaluating for ankyloglossia is difficult, however, the Hazelbaker Ankyloglossia Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function (HATLFF) may be of benefit.

Method Observational descriptive design utilizing a retrospective medical record review. The HATLFF was utilized in full term neonates suspected of ankyloglossia in …

Perioperative Risks Of The Patient With Heart Failure, Gabrielle Metoyer

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Perioperative Risks of the Patient with Heart Failure

Gabrielle Metoyer

Department of Nursing, Otterbein University

NURS 6810 – Advanced Pathophysiology

Dr. Deanna Batross and Dr. Shivani Bhatnagar

August 5, 2022

Abstract

According to the CDC (2020), heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in your body. Heart failure is an epidemic disease affecting 1-2% of the population worldwide (Schwinger, 2020). It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with an estimated 6.5 million adults with heart failure in the United States (Lo et al., 2021). Medical advances …

Assessment Of Spatial Skills In Human Anatomy And Physiology Students, Abigail Carroll

Honors Theses

Visual spatial skills are an individual’s ability to mentally and manipulate the shapes, forms and positions of objects. Spatial skills are necessary for adequate learning in many settings. Few studies have assessed spatial skills compared to success in Anatomy and Physiology in undergraduate students. Most students in this course are on a health profession track. Due to the increasing health care demands and need for competent health care professionals, this study assesses the innate spatial skill ability in students and acquired additional learned spatial skills. This study tests 17 students with the paper-folding test, blank page test, and two surveys …

Additive Manufacturing Of Variable Contrast Computed Tomography Anatomical Phantoms Using A Single Feedstock In Fused Filament Fabrication, Cory J. Darling

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Anatomical phantoms used in biomedical education and training benefit greatly from Fused filament fabrication’s (FFF) ability to rapidly produce complex and unique models. Current materials and methods used in FFF have limited ability to accurately produce phantoms that can mimic the radiological properties of multiple biological tissues. This research demonstrates that the CT contrast of FFF produced models can be modified by varying the concentration of bismuth oxide in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) filaments and a tunable CT contrast that mimics the CT contrast ranging from fatty tissue to cortical bone using a single composite filament without introducing artificial image …

Comparison Of Landing Biomechanics Between Different Competitive Levels Of Irish Dance, Jade Shields

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Abstract

Objectives: To determine differences in lower limb landing biomechanics and lower extremity function scale scores between champion levels, in young female Irish dancers.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance

Participants: 12 Open Champion (OC) level female Irish dancers (11.9 ± 3.37 years) and 9 Preliminary Champion (PC) Irish dancers (13.5 ± 3.37 years) performed the landing error scoring system test (LESS), and completed the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) and a descriptive data questionnaire

Main outcome measures: LESS scoring sheet and LEFS PRO

Results: No significant differences found between OC and PC levels on …

Tiger Woods' Alif Procedure: Causes And Results, Nathan Martin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project intends to use Tiger Woods as a case study to further study the physiological and biomechanical effects of a spinal fusion. In 2017, and at age 42, Woods received an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) surgery. Less than two years later, Woods was able to return to professional golf. The goals for this research project are to; explain the medical issues that led Woods to receiving this surgery, describe in depth the surgical technique that was used, detail the recovery process that is associated with this procedure, and to examine the change in biomechanics of Tiger Woods’ golf …

Apathy And Brain Atrophy During The First Year Of Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Study, Gulnaz Kudoiarova

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Apathy, defined as disinterest and loss of motivation, is a common complication after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). The existing body of research in various neurological and neurodegenerative disorders suggests that apathetic symptoms may be associated with variation in the volume of the brain regions such as dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and ventral striatum. However, the longitudinal pattern of TBI-induced atrophy in these key regions and its relationship with apathy symptoms remain to be demonstrated. The current study aimed to describe the atrophy pattern in the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc; part of ventral striatum) after …

Machine Learning Classification Of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Versus Healthy Controls Using Arterial Spin Labeled Perfusion Mri, Vanessa I. Grass

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of death and disability worldwide, yet accurate in vivo detection of TBI neuropathology remains challenging due to complexities in the structural and functional changes observed post-injury as well as limitations in conventional neuroimaging modalities. Although advanced neuroimaging techniques such as arterial spin labeling (ASL) can noninvasively assess cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes observed post-injury, this technique is underutilized in TBI research partly due to the low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) inherent in ASL imaging. The aim of the current study is to examine the use of machine learning, specifically a Support …

Cadaveric Endoscopic Gastrocnemius Recession Procedures To Identify Vital Anatomical Structures And Limit Intraoperative And Post-Operative Complications, Austin Combs

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

Gastrocnemius equinus contracture plays a role in a multitude of patient pathologies, conditions, and deformities seen in podiatric medicine (Barrett, 2011). Equinus deformity is associated with over 96% of the biomechanically-related foot and ankle pathologies including hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, capsulitis, pes planus, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and others (Deheer, 2015). These pathologies are linked with a decreased range of motion in the ankle joint specifically in dorsiflexion. Corrective approaches can be taken to reduce pathology if the patient presents prior to any major deformity. The aim of this study is to better define the location of the small saphenous vein and …

Effect Of Eurycoma Longifolia And Eccentric Exercise On Quadriceps Strength In Elite Rugby Player, Ahmad Zawawi Zakaria

Student Works (2020-2029)

Optimizing performance by resistance training over a limited amount of time was imperative in a training year plan. Superior effect of eccentric training has been documented but less known its influence on elite athletes which incorporated submaximal and supramaximal intensity eccentric that was essential for muscle strength and hypertrophy. Correspondingly, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (ElJ) supplementation has been shown to stimulate the production of the non-prohibited androgenic hormones, which was important for athletic performance in terms of muscular strength and size. However, investigation was not sufficiently vigorous on such effect of a supplement in elite athletes. Therefore, the major aim of …