Inferior Complex Research Articles

Different anatomic patterns of the indirect tendon of the rectus femoris

PurposeThe rectus femoris forms the anterior portion of the quadriceps muscle. It has a proximal tendinous complex, which is constituted by a direct tendon, an indirect tendon, and a variable third tendon. Direct and indirect tendons converge into a common tendon. The purposes of this study are to add anatomical knowledge about the proximal tendinous complex and describe anatomical variants of the indirect tendon and, on these basis, categorize different anatomical patterns.MethodIn this study, 48 hemipelvis from bodies donated to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have been dissected to examine the proximal tendinous complex of the rectus femoris.ResultsThe following anatomical variants of the indirect tendon were described: inferior aponeurotic expansion in 23/48 cases (47.9%); superior aponeurotic expansion in 21/48 cases (43.7%); and an unusual origin of the myotendinous junction of the rectus femoris in the free portion of the indirect tendon in 19/48 cases (39.6%). On the basis of the aponeurotic expansions, the following anatomical patterns of the indirect tendon were defined: standard (19/48 cases, 39.6%), superior and inferior complex (15/48 cases, 31.2%), inferior complex (8/48 cases, 16.7%), and superior complex (6/48 cases, 12.5%).ConclusionWe can categorize four different anatomical patterns of the indirect tendon, three of which are complex. We suggest that complex patterns can cause an increased stiffness of the indirect tendon and so be considered non-modifiable risk factors for rectus femoris injuries. Finally, it would be useful to identify complex patterns and perform injury prevention actions through specific physical preparation programs.

FROM CONSCIOUSNESS TO UNCONSCIOUSNESS: A BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL STUDY OF QALA

The purpose of the ‘Qala’ movie is to diminish the cultural cleavage of gender that predicates the superiority of one gender over the other. The articulation and repetition of notions of gender are culturally constructed and enacted through the formulaic association of things and thoughts with active social participation. These interactions are spooned with anxieties and sufferings that change the whole course of ‘Qala’, an eponymous character’s life upside down. Some questions that this article attempts to answer concerning the psychological condition of Qala are how performativity of male dominance blazes the spark of mental illness, how inferior complex and the issues of bad parenting add flame to the impairment, and how little incidents in her life assimilate negative emotions that lead to the breakdown of Qala resulting in her psychosis. The present article aims to trace the neurological nexus of thoughts by using Engel’s ‘biopsychosocial model’. This study suggests that biological, psychological, and social conditions played a dominant role in shaping the psychosis of Qala.

Inferiority complex in women's oppression on Medea & The Glass Menagerie

The purpose of this study is to analyze the inferiority complex of women characters from various eras based on their stories. This study uses the id, ego, superego, and defense mechanism by Freud and inferiority complex by Heidbreder. Through the descriptive analytical method, this analyze is to help the interpretation of the women characters state of minds including their stress coping mechanism and classify their types of inferior complex. The results of this study shows that Medea had a high tendency to feel insecure as a result of her husband’s betrayal, and she mostly used projection as a defense mechanism to revenge her husband. Meanwhile, Amanda demonstrates the use of identification as a stress escapement from societal pressure, as well as her inferiority complex when faced with a guy caller. Due to the stress of high expectations in attracting gentleman caller, Laura mostly used rationalization as a defense mechanism.
 
 Keywords: Inferiority Complex, Defense Mechanism, Psychoanalysis, Oppression.

Results of different strategies to manage complicated retinal re-detachment.

Complicated retinal re-detachment with inferior proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) remains a challenge. This study's aim was to compare vitrectomy with conventional silicon oil (CSO) combined with an encircling band (EB) and vitrectomy with heavy silicon oil (HSO) alone to treat retinal re-detachment through inferior PVR, where standard procedures have already failed. A retrospective analysis was done on patients with inferior complex re-detachment with secondary PVR after primary surgery, who received pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with CSO combined with EB (group 1) or PPV alone with HSO (group 2) between December 2006 and August 2017. The primary endpoint was retinal reattachment, and the secondary endpoint was visual acuity (VA) change and complications in both groups. This study included 119 eyes. Total single surgery anatomical success (SSAS) was 64%, with 80% (52/65) achieved in group 1 and 44.5% (24/54) in group 2 (p < 0.0001). The total final anatomical success (FAS) rate was 79% (94/119). In group 1, FAS was 91% (59/65) compared with 65% (35/54) in group 2 (p = 0.003). The pretreatment VA of group 1 had a median of 1.4 logMAR (95% CI 0.3-1.8), and group 2 showed a median of 1.4 logMAR (95% CI 0.2-1.8). The post-treatment decrease in group 1 was a median equal to - 0.6 versus - 0.1 for group 2 (p = 0.0001). Serious complications were similar in both groups. For complicated retinal re-detachment through inferior PVR, the combination of PPV with EB may lead to better anatomical (SSAS, FAS) and functional success compared with PPV alone with HSO.

A Revised Surgical Strategy for the Distal Tibiofibular Interosseous Osteochondroma

Osteochondroma is one of the most common benign bone tumor; however, the surgical treatment still remains a challenge for those that occur at the distal tibiofibular interosseous location. Previously, the transfibular approach has been successfully described, but the potential damage of the syndesmosis would give rise to the instability of the ankle joint and thus may result in the unfavorable long-term outcome. Here, a revised strategy which can protect the syndesmotic complex is introduced. From 2010 to 2017, eleven patients with the distal tibiofibular interosseous osteochondroma who underwent the revised surgery were collected. The distal fibular osteotomy and posterior tibial osteotomy were performed to keep the inferior syndesmosis intact for better stability of the ankle joint. Both the anterior tibiofibular ligaments (AITFL) and posterior tibiofibular ligaments (PITFL) have been preserved successfully, and thus, the stability of the ankle joint has been maintained due to our strategy. The VAS and AOFAS scores were utilized to assess the clinical outcome and function. Postoperatively, all the patients were pain-free and were able to wear the appropriate shoes at the last follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative AOFAS scores were 93.63 ± 6.91 and 47.27 ± 5.27 (P < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, the average VAS score was 1.73 ± 0.27 (compared with preoperative as 7.45 ± 2.15, P < 0.05), demonstrating obvious improvement after the operation. To our best knowledge, this is the first time to perform the resection of the distal tibial interosseous osteochondroma involving the fibula without interrupting the inferior syndesmotic complex especially the AITFL and PITFL. We believe that this strategy may pave a new way for optimized clinical outcome for these patients with distal tibiofibular interosseous osteochondroma. This clinical trial study is registered with number ChiCTR1900024690.

CARDIAC SARCOIDOSIS PRESENTING WITH VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

Background: Clinically manifest cardiac involvement occurs in perhaps 5% of patients with sarcoidosis. The three principal manifestations of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are conduction abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias, and heart failure. We report a patient whose initial manifestation of cardiovascular involvement was sudden cardiac arrest due to sustained ventricular tachycardia. Presentation: A 40 year old lady with a history with no significant past medical history presented one year ago with haemodynamically stable RBBB morphology with inferior axis wide complex tachycardia consistent with VT which reverted to sinus rhythm with intravenous metoprolol. Echo revealed normal LV function. She was then discharged on beta blockers and advised to get CT chest on follow up. CT chest revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and she was referred to pulmonologist. Diagnosis and Management: 6 months later she presented with incessant hemodynamically stable ventricular tachycardia that remained sustained for 24 hours despite intravenous beta blockers, amiodarone and verapamil requiring multiple cardioversions. She was sedated, mechanically ventilated and started on oral Propranolol and intravenous methylprednisolone with the suspicion of CS. Patient reverted to sinus rhythm within 24 hours of intravenous steroids. Patient’s PET scan confirmed the diagnosis CS. Follow-up and Outcomes: Though the diagnosis of early CS is difficult, detection and initiation of specific treatment is vital. Although the present case lacks a definitive tissue diagnosis, the patient meets accepted criteria for CS. ICD was implanted in this patient. Keywords: Wide Complex Tachycardia 1, Cardiac Sarcoidosis 2, Incessent 3, ICD 4, PET 5

Immunohistochemical characterization of axon terminals of the adult rat cerebellar cortex

Aim of the present study was to immunohystochemically characterize the glutamatergic terminals in the cerebellar cortex. The study was carried out on adult rat, using immunohistochemistry for the vesicular transporters of glutamate, VGLUT1 e VGLUT2, and synaptophysin. Results. Terminals positive for VGLUT1 e VGLUT2 were observed in the molecular layer (ML) and granular layer (GL). ML. VGLUT1-positive terminals appeared very numerous, homogeneously distributed throughout the layer with a distribution pattern resembling that of the parallel fiber terminals. VGLUT2-positive terminals appeared displaced along distinct spiral lines extending from the deeper part of the layer up to the its superficial part, likely corresponding to synapses between climbing fibers and Purkinje neuron dendrites. No colocalization of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 was observed in ML. Double labelling for VGLUT1 and synaptophysin and, respectively, VGLUT2 and synaptophysin revealed colocalization, suggesting the axon terminal nature of the immunolabelled elements. Interestingly, some elements appeared synaptophysin positive, but negative for VGLUT1 and VGLUT2. In GL, VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 positive terminals displayed similar distribution patterns, They appeared clustered in restricted regions of the layer, scattered within granule neurons, at the level of synaptic glomeruli. Most of these terminals showed a colocalization of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2. However a part of them shows positivity for VGLUT2 and negativity for VGLUT1. All the VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 positive elements also displayed positivity for synaptophysin. Finally, like in ML, some elements appeared synaptophysin positive, but negative for VGLUT1 and VGLUT2. Conclusion. The results indicate that the glutamatergic terminals in the cerebellar cortex may be differentiated combining Immunohistochemistry for VGLUT1 and VGLUT2. Moreover, the results identify subpopulations within terminals of the parallel, climbing and mossy fibers. In particular, a subpopulation of mossy fiber terminals, displaying positivity for VGLUT2 and negativity for VGLUT1, are different from the vast majority of mossy fiber terminals, which display for both VGLUT1 and VGLUT2, but similar to climbing fiber terminals. It is intriguing to hypothesize that these mossy fibers may constitute a contingent of mossy fiber originated in the inferior olivary nuclear complex.

Functional and anatomical assessment of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess the ability of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) complex measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect glaucoma, to measure RGC loss by pattern electroretinogram (PERG), and to correlate the results of PERG with OCT for glaucoma detection. Patients and methods Fifty glaucoma suspects (100 eyes), 70 glaucoma patients (140 eyes), and 50 age-matched controls (100 eyes) were examined. Participants had clear ocular media, no or mild refractive errors, and no concomitant ocular or systemic diseases. Superior and inferior ganglion cell complex thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were measured by means of OCT. The amplitude and latency of PERG were elicited by counter-phase checks. Results The mean RNFL thickness and mean RGC thickness were reduced in glaucoma patients compared with glaucoma suspects and controls. The mean RNFL thickness was 88 ± 9.9 µm in early glaucoma, 94 ± 12 µm in glaucoma suspects, and 99 ± 15.5 µm in controls. The total RGC thickness was 55 ± 6.2 µm in early glaucoma, 64.9 ± 3.8 µm in glaucoma suspects, and 65 ± 4.1 µm in controls. The mean PERG amplitude was decreased in both glaucoma suspects and glaucoma patients compared with controls. In glaucoma suspects, PERG amplitude did not correlate significantly with both RNFL thickness and RGC thickness, whereas in glaucoma patients PERG amplitude was positively correlated with both RNFL and RGC thickness. Conclusion OCT can assess the RGC anatomically, whereas PERG can functionally evaluate RGC loss. Lack of anatomical–functional relationship in glaucoma suspects suggests that at this stage PERG losses appear to affect primarily the retinal/optic nerve function. In glaucoma patients, PERG reflects both dysfunction and loss of ganglion cells.

Arthroscopic Treatment for Multidirectional Instability

Multidirectional instability (MDI) was first described by Neer and Foster in 1980. Although there has been much confusion over the years with a blending of classifications, the inherent concept of symptomatic inferior instability with associated anterior and posterior instability remains the hallmark of the MDI shoulder. The MDI shoulder may be thought of as one of compensation, where the balance of the scapula and rotator cuff maintain the humeral head in the glenoid. Symptoms are seen when this balance is lost. The anatomical characteristic of the MDI shoulder is increased capsular volume with widening of the critical rotator interval structures (superior glenohumeral ligament and coracohumeral ligament) along with dysfunction of the entire inferior glenohumeral ligament complex. Management centers on nonoperative treatment, with pain control and scapular rebalancing exercises being the key to successful nonoperative management. Surgery is only indicated by a failure of nonoperative treatment and is focused on closing the rotator interval and decreasing capsular volume by shifting both the anterior and posterior capsule superiorly.

Preperitoneal sutureless mesh repair of inguinal hernia by open inguinal approach using inferior epigastric vessel complex as landmark: A tertiary care centre experience

Introduction: The study is a clinical trial done on patients with inguinal hernia, who were treated by open preperitoneal sutureless mesh repair, using inferior epigastric vessel complex as landmark. Aim: To study the postoperative complications and recurrence rates associated with the open preperitoneal sutureless mesh repair. Materials and Methods: Total 100 patients of inguinal hernia were recruited in this clinical trial from January 2009 to December 2012. Those with bilateral inguinal hernia or recurrent hernias were excluded from the study. Results: The average time taken to complete the surgery was 42.2 minutes and the average hospital stay was 2.5 days. Post-surgery, at a median follow-up period of 2 years, only 2 patients had seroma formation. Visual analog scale pain scores of 4 and 6 were seen in 60% and 40% cases, respectively. No recurrences were encountered post-surgery in any of the case till the last follow-up. Conclusion: This procedure was found to have fewer complications and was less time-consuming as compared to the other conventional open hernia repairs.

Minimal Incisions Vertical Endoscopic Lifting and Fat Grafting as a Systematic Approach to the Rejuvenation of the Periocular Esthetic Unit

The forehead/brow complex, the temporal region, the upper eyelid, the zygomatic area, the lower eyelid, and the cheek comprise the periocular esthetic unit. The combination of variable degrees of tissue descent and fat deflation of the component parts of the unit determine its appearance with age. The authors report the results of tissue repositioning through a minimal incisions vertical endoscopic lift and volume restoration used in combination to restore the natural youthful appearance of the periocular esthetic unit. The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who underwent minimal incisions vertical endoscopic lift and fat grafting over a 12-year period in 3 different centers. Patients results were evaluated with standardized pre- and postoperative pictures graded by masked observers in a scale from poor, fair, satisfactory, to very satisfactory results. Patient satisfaction was self-graded in the same manner. The study consists of 400 patients, of whom 337 (85%) were women and 63 (14.8%) were men, with a mean age of 46 years (range 38-67) for women and mean age of 53 years (range 48-65) for men. Mean follow up was 16 months (range 6 months-8 years); in 180 patients follow up was 2 years or longer. Additional procedures included lower blepharoplasty in 205 patients (51%), neck lift in 102 patients (26%), upper blepharoplasty in 63 patients (15.7%), lateral canthoplasty in 9 patients (2.3%), and upper eyelid ptosis in 6 patients (1.5%). The results were graded as satisfactory or very satisfactory by 95% of patients and by 91% of observers. On the basis of the anatomical changes that occur in the periocular esthetic unit, tissue repositioning is indicated to address the descent of the superior complex and in minor part of the inferior complex, while volume restoration is indicated to address the volume depletion of the inferior and the lateral complexes and for refinements of the superior complex. The authors propose a systematic combination of lifting and filling to naturally restore the youthful appearance of the periocular esthetic unit. Conservative blepharoplasty can be associated in selected cases for result optimization.

Brainstem lesions in permanent vegetative state

Vegetative state has mainly been associated with widespread damage of cortex, white matter and/or thalamus, whereas brainstem findings are usually absent or include focal, slight and non-haemorrhagic lesions. Functional integrity of the brainstem is considered to be necessary for preservation of sleep/wake cycle (arousal and wakefulness), particularly midline structures of the upper pons and midbrain. Awareness, instead, mainly relies on the integrity of the cerebral cortex, white matter, basal ganglia and thalamus. We present here the neuroanatomical study of a case of post-traumatic permanent vegetative state which is characterized by a quite complex damage also at the level of the brainstem. After a car accident a young woman was referred to Neurosurgical Unit in coma and paraplegia due to head injury and C2 fracture. Spontaneous sleep/wake cycle recovered in the following months. Magnetic resonance, performed one month after the trauma, showed injuries of midbrain, thalamus and left frontal lobe. The patient died more than 15 years after the trauma. Macroscopic examination showed generalized hypotrophy of cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and brainstem. Partial degeneration of the basal ganglia and severe volumetric reduction of the hemispheric white matter were observed. Wide and bilateral thalamic necrosis and degeneration was found. Transverse sections of the brainstem showed degeneration of the descending and ascending systems of motor and sensitive fibres, and neuronal loss in the inferior olivary complex, pontine nuclei, red nucleus and substantia nigra. In the midbrain, areas of necrosis with reactive astrogliosis extended from the mesencephalic aqueduct towards the interpeduncular fossa, affecting the periaqueductal grey matter, and the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. On the basis of the neuroanatomic description of the damaged areas, we discuss the role of the midbrain reticular activating system and possible plasticity responses in the mechanisms of arousal/wakefulness.

Unique presentation of maxillary artery, lingual nerve, and inferior alveolar nerve complex

Knowledge of variations in arteries and nerves of infratemporal fossa may be helpful in radical neck dissection and in dental procedures to avoid the complications. We present an unusual case in which maxillary artery was found deep (medial) to lateral pterygoid muscle. Lingual nerve originated from two roots: anterior and posterior. Anterior root originated from common trunk and the posterior root directly from mandibular nerve. Inferior alveolar nerve was a continuation of the common trunk. Branches of mandibular nerve formed a loop through which passed the second part of maxillary artery. The clinical significance of the present variations has been discussed.

복소 채널의 위상 왜곡 보상을 위한 델타함수 기반의 확률분포거리 최소화 블라인드 알고리듬

Abstract This paper introduces the complex-version of an Euclidean distance minimization algorithm based on a set of delta functions. The algorithm is analyzed to be able to compensate inherently the channel phase distortion caused by inferior complex channels. Also this algorithm has a relatively small size of Gaussian kernel compared to the conventional method of using a randomly generated symbol set. This characteristic implies that the information potential between desired symbol and output is higher so that the algorithm forces output more strongly to gather close to the desired symbol. Based on 16 QAM system and phase distorted complex-channel models, mean squared error (MSE) performance and concentration performance of output symbol points are evaluated. Simulation results show that the algorithm compensates channel phase distortion effectively in constellation performance and about 5 dB enhancement in steady state MSE performance.Key Words : Complex channel, Phase distortion, Delta functions, Blind equalization, PDF-distance minimization.

Anterior Dislocation of the Shoulder Associated with Bankart Lesion in a Patient with Poland's Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Poland's syndrome is a rare congenital entity characterized by unilateral partial or total hypoplasia of the major pectoralis muscle, breast and/or ipsilateral hand abnormalities. It has been reported in association with various structural and functional abnormalities. We report about a 23-year-old male kick-boxer with Poland's syndrome who presented in our department the history of two traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations due to boxing and self-reductions. Physical examination showed an instability of the left shoulder, and the MRI scans demonstrated a Bankart lesion. The patient had been treated with an arthroscopic Bankart repair; reattachment of the detached antero-inferior labrum down to the glenoid and repairing of the inferior gleno-humeral ligament complex. To our knowledge this is a first case report of a patient presenting with traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations due to kick-boxing associated with Poland's syndrome.

A family with earlier onset spinocerebellar ataxia 6 in China

Objective To investigate the real type of the first earlier onset spinocerebellar ataxia family in China. Methods Two family members were subjected to autopsy, whose genetypings were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing technique. Golgi staining, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy methods were used to detect the neurodegeneration in central nervous system of 2 patients. Results The light microscopic and electron microscopic showed synaptic degeneration of Purkinje cell in the cerebellar cortex, which was accompanied by deterioration of Purkinje cell, and both inferior olivary complex, dentate nucleus and anterior central gyrus. Conclusions There is severer neurodegeneration in the central nervous system of earlier onset spiuocerebellar ataxia 6 patient, especially in cerebellar cortex, inferior olivary complex and dentate nucleus, and the neurodegeneration may depend on disease duration. Key words: Spinocerebellar ataxias; Pedigree; Purkinje cells; Cerebellar nuclei

Arthroscopic repair of L-shaped tear of the anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex in a pediatric patient: a technical note

The present study reports on a case of a 10-year-old patient with recurrent right shoulder instability after a traumatic event leading to a mid-substance tear of the anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex in an L-shaped pattern. Arthroscopic repair consisting of a 2.4 mm bioabsorbable suture anchor at the apex and a four PDS sutures placed through the capsulolabral junction leads to an anatomic repair with excellent short-term results similar to those found in other studies. The injury pattern is thought to be about 1% of shoulder dislocations, but tear pattern recognition is critical for a successful repair and clinical result.

Expression of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides at climbing fibre-Purkinje cell synapses in the rat vestibular cerebellum

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides have a wide CNS distribution and appear to play an important role in a number of physiological processes including reward and reinforcement, feeding, locomotion, stress responses and perception of pain. We have further investigated the expression of CART peptides in rat cerebellum, using multiple fluorescent antibodies. Dense fibre-like immunofluorescence was observed in the molecular layer of the vestibular cerebellum (paraflocculus and lobes IX and X of the vermis). There was little or no immunofluorescence in any other region of the cerebellum (vermis or hemispheres). The immunofluorescence in lobes IX and X of the vermis showed a parasagittal banding pattern, with one medial and two lateral bands. We have provided several lines of evidence that CART peptides are expressed by climbing fibres: (1) There is CART peptide immunofluorescence in the inferior olivary complex, the source of climbing fibres. (2) No cerebellar cell bodies were labelled by the CART peptide antibody. (3) The developmental profile of CART peptide expression was consistent with climbing fibre development and finally (4) triple antibody labelling revealed co-expression of CART peptides with VGluT2 (the glutamate transporter at climbing fibre synapses) at boutons innervating calbindin D-28K labelled proximal Purkinje cell dendrites. Analysis of VGluT2 and CART peptide labelling in more detail showed that not all climbing fibres in the vestibular cerebellum expressed CART peptides but those fibres which did express CART peptides were immunofluorescent at all Purkinje cell synapses.

Correction of changes induced by toluene in the cortical and subcortical structures of albino rat brain

The number and weight of cells in the cortical and subcortical structures of the cerebral and cerebellar motor system in albino rats after a long-term exposure to toluene. Toluene intoxication proved to kill projection neurons and interneurons in the sensorimotor cortex, ventrolateral thalamic nucleus, caudate nucleus, pallidum, red nucleus, and inferior olivary complex. The decreased number of cerebellar cells was mediated by atrophic changes as indicated by the decrease in the area and dry weight of Purkinje cells. The addition of plaferon LB to the diet attenuated the cytotoxic effect of toluene.

Precerebellar and vestibular nuclei of the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

The monotremes are a unique group of living mammals, which diverged from the line leading to placental mammals at least 125 million years ago. We have examined the organization of pontine, inferior olivary, lateral reticular and vestibular nuclei in the brainstem of the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) to determine if the cyto- and chemoarchitecture of these nuclei are similar to that in placental mammals and marsupials. We have used Nissl staining in conjunction with enzyme-histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase, cytochrome oxidase and NADPH diaphorase as well as immunohistochemistry for non-phosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI-32 antibody) and calcium binding proteins (parvalbumin, calbindin, calretinin). Homologies could be established between the arch shaped inferior olivary complex of the echidna and the principal, dorsal and medial accessory subdivisions of the therian inferior olivary complex. The pontine nuclei of the echidna included basilar and reticulotegmental components with similar cyto- and chemarchitectural features to therians and there were magnocellular and subtrigeminal components of the lateral reticular nucleus, also as seen in therians. Subdivisions and chemoarchitecture of the vestibular complex of the echidna were both similar to that region in rodents. In all three precerebellar nuclear groups studied and in the vestibular nucleus organization, the cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the echidna was very similar to that seen in therian mammals and no "primitive" or "reptilian" features were evident.