The article is devoted to the formation of the personality and early career of the outstanding Soviet anatomist, Mikhail Grigor'evich Prives. The primary focus is on his childhood, youth, and period of professional development in Voronezh. Based on previously unpublished archival documents, the research demonstrates how his genuine interest in medicine was fostered within the family of a pharmacist during the prerevolutionary and early post-revolutionary years. After finishing school, Mikhail Prives enrolled in the Medical Faculty of Voronezh University, which he successfully completed in 1925. He then worked as a surgeon in Voronezh. The practical clinical experience he gained in hospitals had a decisive influence on his subsequent scientific career. His surgical practice awakened in him a deep interest in the foundation of medicine – anatomy. It was during the Voronezh period that the pivotal transition from surgery to the in-depth study of anatomy occurred. This shift was fully realized in Leningrad and determined his future as a scientist with a world-class reputation. The authors demonstrate that the early years of M.G. Prives's life and work were a critically important stage for this great scientist and educator, laying the groundwork for his subsequent fundamental discoveries in the fields of functional anatomy and X-ray anatomy.

The greater sciatic foramen (GSF) is a passageway for important neurovascular bundles of the pelvis and lower limb, making it a potential site for compression of these structures. Investigating the features of morphological variability in this region helps to identify the predisposing factors for neurological disorders, optimizes surgical approaches, and reduces the number of iatrogenic injuries to blood vessels and nerves. The aim of the study is to evaluate the variability in the shape of the bony margins of the greater sciatic foramen, characteristic of mature adult males and females, for subsequent application in clinical practice. Material and methods. The results of multispiral computed tomography scans of 70 patients aged 20–59 years were analyzed; linear and angular parameters of the foramen were determined on three-dimensional pelvic models . Geometric morphometrics was used to analyze the configuration of the GSF based on 20 landmarks placed on its bony margins. Results. Based on the linear and angular dimensions, four main shapes of the GSF were identified: deltoid, parallelogram, trapezoid, and irregular quadrilateral. It was established that the deltoid shape is statistically significantly more common in women, while the parallelogram shape is more common in men. The incidence of the trapezoid and irregular quadrilateral shapes did not differ significantly between the sexes. The geometric morphometric analysis revealed significant sex-related differences in the shape of the GSF. These variations are concentrated along a single canonical axis and are determined by the shape of the greater sciatic notch of the hip bone. Males are characterized by greater depth and concavity in the superior part of the notch, whereas females exhibit greater depth and concavity in its inferior part. Conclusion. Currently, there is no universal reference method for the precise determination of the GSF shape. The most reliable results can only be achieved through an integrated approach that combines traditional linear measurements with modern geometric morphometric methods.

The aim of the study is to investigate the structural organization of the human yolk sac compartments during the first trimester of physiological pregnancy and the potential connection of this organ to the primitive gut. Material and methods. 27 human yolk sacs and 23 fetal small intestine fragments obtained from voluntary termination of physiological pregnancy (gestational age: 5–12 weeks) were examined. The morphological features of the organs were studied on serial paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as with Mallory's stain. Results. In the early stages of human development, the wall of the yolk sac is primarily composed of an endodermal-type epithelium. A unique structure of this organ is the “glomus-like body”, which has a folded form and contains a developed capillary network. The yolk sac is connected to the primitive gut via the vitelline duct, through which the contents of the organ are transported into the intestinal lumen until the 6th week of development. During this period, the formation of all its layers and structural features continues. The presence of microvilli on the surface of the enterocytes suggests their involvement in the absorption process. Fibrosis and thinning of the yolk sac wall, reduction in the size of the glomus body, and simultaneous obliteration of the vitelline duct indicate the completion of the organ's primary functions by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion. The human yolk sac is a provisional structure with a unique organization, which functions in close interaction with embryonic endodermal derivatives. Its life cycle follows the principle of accelerated development, which is characteristic of the extraembryonic organ system as a whole.

The aim of the study is to determine how the head shape and facial type of young males from the Luhansk People's Republic affect the morphometry of the lower face. Material and methods. A total of 140 young men with a mean age of 19.1±0.7 years were examined. Cephalotyping and facial type determination were performed. 23 morphometric parameters of the lower face were studied. One-way and two-way, as well as multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed on the obtained results. Post hoc testing was conducted using Tukey's test. The most suitable ANOVA model was selected based on an information test using the Akaike information criterion. Differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results. The facial width at the subnasale level is greater in euryprosopes and mesoprosopes compared to leptoprosopes and hyperleptoprosopes. Moreover, significant differences in this indicator were observed between the hyperleptoprosope and mesoprosope groups, as well as between the hyperleptoprosope and leptoprosope groups. The greatest values for the distance between stomion and submentale were identified in hyperleptoprosopes, in whom this indicator was significantly higher than the corresponding values in the other groups of young males. The mean values of the distance between the labium superius and crista philtri dexter points do not differ significantly across the different observation groups. One of the established multivariate dependent variables, on which the influence of the young males prosopotype was significant, was the variable composed of the subnasale–gnation, subnasale–stomion, and stomion–submentale parameters. In this study, using multivariate analysis of variance, this variable was compared across groups of young males with different prosopotypes. It was found that this variable differed statistically significantly across the different observation groups. Conclusion. Constitutional features of the morphometric parameters of the lower face in young males residing in the Luhansk People's Republic were identified. It was established that, compared to cephalotype, the prosopotype of the study participants has a greater influence on the morphometric parameters of the lower face.

The aim of the study is to identify the features of placental morphogenesis in women who had COVID-19 of varying severity during the third trimester of pregnancy. Material and methods. A single-center retrospective study was conducted for the period from March 2020 to April 2022. Using a continuous sampling method, 148 medical records and histological specimens taken from the central part of the placenta were selected from women who had contracted COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy. The entire sample was divided into three comparison groups: Group 1 – mild course of viral infection (n=77), Group 2 – moderate course (n=52), Group 3 – severe course (n=19). The severity of the illness caused by the COVID-19 viral infection was assessed according to the criteria outlined in the Clinical Protocols "Organization of Medical Care for Pregnant Women, Parturient Women, Postpartum Women, and Newborns with the Novel Coronavirus Infection COVID-19," Versions 3 and 5. Histopathological examination of the placentas was performed in accordance with the clinical guidelines of the Russian Society of Pathologists, "Rules for Pathological Examination of the Placenta" (2017). Results. A severe course of coronavirus infection increases the odds of placental hemodynamic disorders by 4.5 times (95% CI 1.58–13.17). Light microscopy analysis of the placentas revealed a higher frequency of maternal malperfusion in the severe infection group – 10 cases (52.6%) – compared to the moderate group – 11 cases (21.2%) – and the mild group – 5 cases (7.8%) (p<0.001). The frequency of inflammatory changes in the placenta with intact fetal membranes was more commonly identified in severe infection – 6 cases (31.6%) – versus 4 cases (7.7%) in moderate disease (p<0.001). Conclusions. Maternal malperfusion, specifically of the accelerated villous maturation type, was more frequently observed in cases of severe coronavirus infection. Among patients with a severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection without premature rupture of membranes, inflammatory changes in the placenta were detected four times more often than in patients with a moderate disease course. These findings confirm an increased frequency of placental pathology in the third trimester of pregnancy associated with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in severe cases. This persistence leads to stromal-vascular disorders and vascular insufficiency, posing a risk of adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus.

The aim of the study is to identify sex-related features of the topography and linear dimensions of the inferior thyroid artery. Material and methods. The study was performed on 56 neck organ complexes, which included the aortic arch, common and external carotid arteries, subclavian arteries, larynx, cervical part of the trachea and esophagus, and on 400 head and neck CT angiography scans. The organ complexes were preliminarily dissected. The arterial bed of the inferior thyroid artery was injected with a colored gelatin-based mass. Subsequently, the specimens were fixed in a 10% formalin solution and underwent final dissection. Photographs of the resulting preparations were analyzed using an overlaid grid. The CT scans were analyzed using the IMV DICOM Viewer software (IMVISION, 2023). For statistical hypothesis testing, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal–Wallis H test, and the Chi-square (χ²) test were calculated. Results. Differences were established in the level of origin of the inferior thyroid artery between the right and left sides. Sex-related differences were also found in the location of its orifice relative to the inferior pole of the thyroid gland lobe. Furthermore, the presence of statistically significant differences in the length and diameter of the inferior thyroid artery was noted between individuals of different sexes and with varying neck lengths. Conclusion. The study showed differences in the position of the inferior thyroid artery orifice associated with sex and neck length. Furthermore, it was found that the artery forms an arch more often on the right side, at the level of the lower third of the corresponding thyroid lobe.

Congenital hip dislocation is a manifestation of a severe degree of hip joint dysplasia, a disabling orthopedic pathology with unclear pathogenetic mechanisms and etiological factors. In congenital hip dislocation, dysplastic processes are identified in the cartilage tissue of the articular surface of the femoral head. Studying the phenotypic characteristics of the articular cartilage cells in the femoral head will help to understand the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of this pathology. The study aims to characterize the cell phenotypes in the femoral head articular cartilage associated with congenital hip dislocation. Material and methods. An immunohistochemical analysis was performed on a culture of articular hyaline cartilage cells from the femoral head obtained from 5 patients with congenital hip dislocation. Five cell culture passages were carried out. Statistical processing of the quantitative data was performed using Microsoft Excel software. Results. During culturing, two cell types of different phenotypes were obtained. Based on a positive immunocytochemical reaction with a key marker of chondrogenic differentiation (anti-type II collagen), the first cell type was identified as chondrocytes and chondroblasts. These are round and polygonal cells that form a monolayer. The second type consisted of process-bearing bipolar and multipolar cells, located in isolation, which exhibited a positive immunocytochemical reaction for the early neural markers PAX6, SOX1, SOX2, Musashi1, and the late neural marker NF200. These cells were defined as being of neural origin. Conclusion. The obtained data will help to assess the involvement of neural-origin cells in the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of congenital hip dislocation development. The interrelationship of the processes occurring during embryogenesis, such as altered migration of neural crest cells, their ectopic localization, and the development of hip joint dysplasia (congenital hip dislocation) requires further investigation.

An analytical review of domestic and foreign publications from the last ten years on the structure, receptor interactions, and physiological role of the main types of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in humans has been conducted. FGFs are involved in angiogenesis, wound healing, and embryogenesis. In humans, 23 members of the fibroblast growth factor family have been identified. FGF representatives can be broadly divided into three families based on their functional differences. The first family comprises FGF1–FGF10. The second family unites the homologous fibroblast growth factors, FGF11–FGF14. The third family includes FGF16– FGF23. Within this third family, a distinct group of factors – FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23 – can be identified, which, unlike other family members, exert systemic effects. The structure, receptor interactions, and physiological role of the main types of FGFs in humans are described. Based on the compiled data, a functional classification of the FGF family is proposed: canonical FGFs 1–10, homologous FGFs 11–14, and endocrine FGFs 19, 21, and 23. The article highlights their roles in angiogenesis, embryogenesis, connective tissue regeneration, neurogenesis, and metabolic regulation. A detailed description of FGF21 as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes is provided. The systematization of knowledge on FGFs underscores their significance in both normal physiology and pathology, and lays the groundwork for the development of novel pharmacological strategies.

The aim of this review was to analyze the morphofunctional characteristics of histohematic barriers. The development of the concept of histohematic barriers is associated with the name of Academician Lina Solomonovna Shtern (1878–1969). Histohematic barriers are defined as the barriers between the blood in the vessels of the microvasculature and the cellular elements of the parenchyma of a given organ. They maintain the balance of metabolic processes between the blood and tissues and regulate the selective transport of substances between the blood and specific enclosed spaces of various organs. The number of structural-functional systems classified as histohematic barriers currently amounts to several dozen. Among the most extensively studied histohematic barriers are the blood-brain, blood-testis, and placental barriers. The components of any histohematic barrier are: endothelial cells of the blood capillaries, the endothelial basement membrane, the interstitial matrix, and the organ parenchyma (which, in most histohematic barriers, is an epithelium resting on a basement membrane). A crucial feature of histohematic barriers is the presence of a large number of different types of tight junctions between the cellular elements of the vascular and parenchymal parts of the barrier. An important role in the functioning of tight junctions is played by transmembrane proteins, primarily occludins and claudins, as well as a number of other proteins (cadherins, catenins, scaffolding proteins, and various adhesion molecules). The most complex histohematic barrier is the blood-testis barrier. It consists of the following components (in the direction from the blood to the cells of the spermatogenic epithelium): the endothelium of the capillaries located in the testicular interstitium, the endothelial basement membrane, a layer of fibroblast-like cells, the basement membrane and 2–3 layers of myoid cells situated on it, the basement membrane of the spermatogenic epithelium, and the basal portion of the sustentocytes (Sertoli cells). A universal classification of histohematic barriers is still lacking. The interpretation of some barrier systems as histohematic barriers is a subject of debate. It is evident that only those barriers which impede the penetration of certain substances from the blood into the body's tissues can be considered histohematic barrier systems.

For a long period of time, cadaveric material was used to study the anatomy of the portal vein system; however, more reliable results can be obtained using in vivo imaging techniques. The aim of our study was to investigate the topographic-anatomical features and morphometric characteristics of the portal vein trunk and confluence using multispiral computed tomography (MSCT). Material and methods. Anatomical variations of the portal vein trunk and confluence was studied by analyzing abdominal MSCT results from 80 patients with no evidence of liver, pancreatic, or splenic diseases, as well as portal hypertension. Results. In the sample we studied, the formation of the portal vein confluence demonstrated significant variability: in 44 cases, the inferior mesenteric vein drained into the splenic vein; in 31 cases, into the superior mesenteric vein; and in 5 cases, this vessel emptied into the angle of confluence of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins. The level of the portal vein confluence varied from the superior border of the L_I vertebra to the inferior border of the L_III vertebra, which generally correlated with the level of the portal vein bifurcation into its lobar branches. It was found that all the studied parameters demonstrated significant variability; however, the greatest variability was characteristic of the confluence angle. Conclusion. The wide range of all studied parameters in the general sample indicates the necessity for further research that takes into account the sexual, age, and typological characteristics of the portal vein system vessels.

August 26, 2025, marked the 80th birthday of Alexander Abramovich Stadnikov, a prominent Soviet and Russian histologist, Doctor of Biological Sciences (1990), Professor (1991), Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation (2008), and Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation (1999). In 1968, he graduated with honors from the Therapeutic Faculty of the Orenburg Medical Institute. His entire subsequent career has been connected with the Department of Histology at the Orenburg medical university (institute – academy – university), where he has been working for over fifty years, progressing from a postgraduate student to a professor and head of the department. His research is dedicated to fundamental and applied problems of histology: the study of histo- and organogenesis; neuroendocrine regulation of morphogenesis and regeneration; the study of the evolutionary dynamics of tissues; and the neuroendocrine regulation of prokaryote and eukaryote interactions. He established the role of hypothalamic nonapeptides as regulators of growth, proliferation, and cytodifferentiation of the adenohypophyseal epithelium. He introduced the concept of the antibiotic influence of neurohormones from the anterior hypothalamus on staphylococci. This served as a fundamental basis for developing methods to correct disorders of cellular and tissue homeostasis. This research proved the efficacy of the topical application of oxytocin in the comprehensive therapeutic treatment of purulent-necrotic processes. He is the author of approximately 700 scientific works, including 22 monographs and 15 invention patents. Among his students are 20 Doctors of Sciences and more than 60 Candidates of Sciences. He has established a major scientific histological school, which investigates problems of morphogenesis, regeneration, and the neuroendocrine regulation of the functions of cells, tissues, and organs. He has been the scientific head of this school for over 40 years.