Head of Department: Professor S. Sunderland STAFF
Full-time Officers
Professor SYDNEY SUNDERLAND, D.Sc, M . D , U.S., F.R.A.C.S, F.R.A.C.P, F.A.A.
Associate Professor LESLIE JOHN RAY, M.B., B.S, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in Anatomy and Reader in Medical History, K E N N E T H FITZ- PATRICK RUSSELL, M . B , M.S., F.R.A.C.S.
Reader in Histology and Embryology, JOHN OCHILTREE LAVARACK, M . B , B.S, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturers:
ALEXANDER FRANCIS ROCHE, M . B , B.S, Ph.D.
OWEN JOHN LEWIS, M . D , Ch.B. (N.Z.)
Senior Lecturer in Histology and Embryology. NEIL CAMERON RAOUL MERRILLEES, M . B , B.S.
This year the research work in the Anatomy Department has been' supported with grants from the General Research and Medical Re- search Funds of thc University, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Mental Health Research Fund and the Nuffield Foundation.
A. NERVOUS SYSTEM (1) Central Nervous System
Workers: S. Sunderland, C. W. Dunlop and K. C. Bradley
Research in the last year has involved a study of amygdalostriatal pathways believed to form part of important efferent systems con- cerned in emotional control, as well as being involved in such motor disorders as Parkinson's disease.
We have observed the effect of bilateral pallidal lesions and the pre- and postoperative action of the tranquillizing drugs, reserpine and chlorpromazine, on the conditioned avoidance behaviour in monkeys. It was found that the pallidal lesions caused a reduction in rates of spontaneous movement, but had little effect on the con- ditioned avoidance responses, and while only small differences from the normal were observed postoperatively in thc conditioned avoid- ance reactions with chlorpromazine, reserpine produced a significant deficit in the monkey's conditioned responses.
An investigation on the effects of reserpine and chlorpromazine on visual, auditory and somatic evoked responses in cortical and subcortical structures in the brain of the phalanger has shown so far that (a) reserpine has no effect in low doses and only a small inhibitory effect in high doses at both cortical and subcortical levels, and (b) low concentrations of chlorpromazine exert an excitatory
134
A N A T O M Y 135 effect while high concentrations have an inhibitory effect. The cortical
regions were affected more than the subcortical regions.
(2) Peripheral Nervous System (a) Intraneural Topography
Workers: S. Sunderland, W. E. Swancy and R. D. Marshall Work has continued on the peripheral nervous system and a study of the intraneural topography of the circumflex musculocutaneous and obturator nerves was completed. A paper dealing with this topic has been accepted for publication in Brain.
(b) Muscle Spindles in Human Extraocular Muscles
Workers: S. Sunderland, J. O. Lavarack and N . C. R. Merrillees Thc intrafusal muscle fibres in the spindles of thc superior oblique muscle are being counted. A n attempt will be made to correlate the number of fibres with the known fibre calibre spectrum of the trochlear nerve. The spindle fibres are supplied by thc largest sensory and the smallest motor nerve fibres in the muscle nerves; it may, therefore, bc possible to find a significant relationship between the number of spindle fibres and thc numbers of the largest and smallest nerve fibres supplying the muscle.
B. C H I L D GROWTH STUDY (3) Physical Growth of Normal Melbourne Children
Workers: S. Sunderland, A. F. Roche and S. Seward
These examinations have been continued at six monthly intervals and the rate of withdrawal from thc group is very low. A paper dealing with the occurrence of multiple opaque foci in the epiphyseal areas of the long bones of the hand and foot has been accepted for publication by the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
The analysis of the dietetic records of the normal children has been continued and thesc formed the basis of a lecture given by Mrs Calm of the Biochemistry Department at a recent meeting of A.N.Z.A.A.S. in Adelaide. Her findings show that there has been a marked improvement in the diets of these normal children between the ages of two years and five years.
W i t h the co-operation of thc Director of the Dental Section of the Department of Health and Mrs Cahn, it has been demonstrated clearly that there is a high correlation between the level of carbo- hydrate intake and the incidence of dental caries in both boys and girls at all ages between two years and six years. Such relationships have been described previously, but we believe that it is important to draw attention to it again and to point out the depressing fact that in those Australian children the incidence of caries is high even
136 F A C U L T Y OF M E D I C I N E
when the level of carbohydrate intake is low throughout the period studied.
(4) Physical Growth of Mongoloid Children
Workers: S. Sunderland, A. F. Roche and S. Seward
The examination of these children has been continued but frequent illnesses make it difficult to arrange a true longitudinal study of such children.
. The investigation of the metrical and non-metrical features of the mongoloid cranium by means of measurements on the living and on standardized X-rays and by the examination of post-mortem material has been completed. These findings have been incorporated in a paper which provides more accurate and more complete data than has previously been available.
(5) Children with Dwarfism
Workers: S. Sunderland, A . F. Roche and S. Seward
This study has been continued and at the moment 21 children are being followed longitudinally.
(6) Children with High Birthweight
Workers: S. Sunderland, A. F. Roche and S. Seward
Recently, with the co-operation of the Royal Women's Hospital, we have contacted mothers whose children were born at that hospital between 1952 and 1955 and whose babies had a birthweight in excess of i o l b . 8 oz. There were 70 such mothers of whom about half allowed us to examine their children.
It is clear that in this group pre-natal growth was unusually rapid, which might be due to excess pituitary growth hormone circulating in a pre-diabetic mother or to an excessive caloric intake during pregnancy or to genetic factors. Children whose birthweight is high for either of the first two reasons should become average in size after birth, whereas, those in the third group should continue to weigh more than the average. Since this problem has not been in- vestigated previously, there is no information available as to the relative frequency of these three types, and it is not known at what age children whose birthweight was high for one of the first two reasons return to average size.
C. HISTOCHEMISTRY (7) The Chemistry of Neural Induction
Worker: J. O. Lavarack
During the year the study of the role of nucleic acids in neural induction has been broadened to include a survey of comparable de- velopmental processes in the period of differentiation of the primary
A N A T O M Y 137
embryonic tissues, with the object of testing the hypothesis that nucleic acid concentrations in cells are related to growth and morpho- genetic activity.
The study is based on freeze-dried embryos. A number of regions of concentration of basophil cytoplasmic material have been identi- fied. Concentrations are present in thc primitive streak and invaginat- ing mesoblast. The early neural epithelium has high concentrations which, as it differentiates, appear to become restricted to certain zones of the neural tube. Similarly the primary mesoblast has high concentrations and in later differentiation the somites and presump- tive epimyocardium. A region of concentration also develops in the endodermal folds of thc foregut.
D. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(8) The Physical Anthropology of the Australian Aboriginal Workers: S. Sunderland, L. J. Ray and A. F. Roche
The systematic study of the skeleton of thc Australian Aboriginal has been continued. Thc work on the clavicle was completed and a paper on its metrical and non-metrical features has been accepted for publication in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
In addition, thc contours of the cranium have been studied and assessed. Thesc indicate that there is a considerable degree of asym- metry in the cranium and also a considerable range of variation in the size of the skull through its various planes. This work has been submitted for publication in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
The metrical features of the humerus and of thc scapula have been studied and this work will shortly be completed.
E. HISTORY OF ANATOMY (9) History of Anatomy
Worker: K. F. Russell
Investigations were continued, in association with Professor C. D.
O'Malley of Stanford University, California, into the work of the XVIth century anatomists. One result of this was thc translation and annotation of the first anatomical book published in England by an Englishman. This was the In anatomicen introductio lucidenta et brevis, London, 1532, by David Edguardus (1502-42) which, al- though only a short work, is of historical importance for it contains reference to the earliest anatomical dissections done in England. The only copy of this work now extant is in thc British Museum. With Professor O'Malley, too, a start was made on the annotation of a translation into English of William Harvey's Prelectiones anatomicae,
138 F A C U L T Y OF M E D I C I N E
1616. This manuscript notebook of Harvey in the British Museum has not previously been translated. I t is of great importance for it gives a clear insight into Harvey's investigations in anatomy in general and the circulation of the blood in particular.
The anatomical plates of Bartholomeo Eustachio (1520-74) and Andreas Vesalius (1514-64) were studied and a detailed comparison commenced. This revealed many instances of Eustachio's superiority of anatomical accuracy.
Further material was collected for a history of anatomy in associa- tion with Professor Charles Singer of London.
During the year two large display cases were provided which will enable exhibits of medico-historical equipment to be shown to the students. The first display arranged was of early microscopes. The following were added to this collection:
(a) A simple microscope made by George Lindsay dated 1743.
This is an important acquisition for it is one of the few ex- amples of his work outside the large national collections in Britain and on the Continent.
(b) A n unusual modification of Benjamin Martin's universal microscope (ca. 1770).
(c) Two Zeiss microscopes made about 1887.
A union card catalogue of medical books in Melbourne libraries published before 1850 was prepared. The cards cover books in both institutional and private libraries.
Very extensive additions were made to the card catalogue of anatomical books published in all languages before 1800.
A number of Kodachromc slides of medical miniatures in medieval manuscripts was obtained from overseas libraries and added to thc historical slide collection. In addition, a large number of black and white slides was prepared.
A l l material in the University archives relating to the early history of the Medical School was transcribed and a number of printed documents were recorded on microfilm.
Russell was elected president of the Section of History of Medicine at the Australasian Medical Congress (B.M.A.) held in Hobart in March 1958. Later in the year he was elected a member of the Societe Internationale d'Histoire de la Medecine.
F. EMBRYOLOGY (10) The Developing Circulation in the Kidney
Worker: O. J. Lewis
Work previously published on thc kidneys of various mammals is being followed by a study of human foetal material. By studying the renal glomerulus in injected preparations through its stages of
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increasing complexity i t has been shown that thc glomerulus does not consist of independent loops as frequently described, nor of independent lobules as recent authors have contended. I t has, in fact, a complex plexiform arrangement from the surface of which thc efferent arteriole (or arterioles) arise. A n anatomical basis for afferent-efferent shunts within the glomerulus has also been demon- strated. The arrangement as described calls for some revision of current physiological and pathological concepts. A paper on this sub- ject has been prepared and will shortly be submitted for publication.
G. GROSS ANATOMY (11) Coraco-Clavicular Joints
Worker: O. J. Lewis
A dissecting room study of coraco-clavicular diarthrodial joints has been completed and a paper accepted for publication by the Journal of Anatomy. I t has been found that true synovial joints between the clavicle and coracoid process exist quite frequently even in thc absence of an articular process on the clavicle, which in the past has been taken as thc main criterion of their presence, especially in roentgenograms. Estimates of frequency and clinical diagnosis of thc presence of a joint based on identification of this process arc thus misleading.
PUBLISHED WORK
1. ADEY, W. R., RUDOLPH, A. F., MINE, I . D. and HARRITT, N . J.—
Glees Staining of the Monkey Hypothalamus; a Critical Ap- praisal in Normal and Experimental Material. / . Anat., Lond.
92: 219-35 (195S)
2. DUNLOP, C. W.— Visccro-Scnsory and Somato-Sensory Represen- tation in the Rhinencephalon. Electroenceph. Clin. Neuro- physiol. 10: 297-304 (1958)
3. DUNLOP, C. W. and EDSALL, G.— Electronic Control of Stimu- lator with Camera. Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol. 10:
743-4 ('958)
4. LEWIS, O. J.— Thc Vascular Arrangement of the Mammalian Renal Glomerulus as Revealed by a Study of its Development.
/ . Anat., Loud. 92: 433-40 (1958)
5. Thc Tubercle of the Tibia. / . Anat., Lond. 92: ^87-92 (>9J8)
6. LEWIS, O. J. (with BARNETT, C. H.)—The Evolution of Some Traction Epiphyses in Birds and Mammals. / . Anat., Lond.
02: 593-601 (1958)
7. RAY, L . J.— Bilateral Coraco-Clavicular Articulations in the Aus- tralian Aboriginal. / . Bone f t Surg. 41B: 180-4 ('959)
140 F A C U L T Y OF M E D I C I N E
8. RUSSELL, K. F.— The Anatomical Plagiarist. Med. J. Aust. i : 248-52 (1959)
9. SUNDERLAND, S.— The Tentorial Notch and Complications Pro- duced by Herniations of the Brain through that Aperture.
Brit. } . Surg. 45: 422-38 (1958)
10. SUNDERLAND, S. and RAY, L . J.— A Note on the Murray Black Collection of Australian Aboriginal Skeletons. Proc. Roy. Soc.
Vict. 7i : 45-8 (1958)
11. SUNDERLAND, S. and ROCHE, A . F.— Axon-Myelin Relationships in Peripheral Nerve Fibres. Acta Anatomica, Basel 33: 1-37 (i958)