Premium
A more detailed mechanism to explain the “bands of Fontana” in peripheral nerves
Author(s) -
Merolli Antonio,
Mingarelli Luigi,
Rocchi Lorenzo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.23422
Subject(s) - endoneurium , perineurium , anatomy , microdissection , jaccard index , peripheral nerve , automatism (medicine) , neuroscience , biology , computer science , pattern recognition (psychology) , artificial intelligence , biochemistry , gene
In 1779, Fontana identified transverse and oblique bands along peripheral nerves. Subsequent studies pointed alternatively to endoneural or perineural components as the cause. Our aim was to clarify these conflicting findings. Methods: Recoiling of the bands of Fontana was video‐recorded in the rat sciatic nerve. Computer‐assisted design (CAD) software was used to model the nerve by interference figures. Results: In vivo microdissection showed distinctive, black‐and‐white, closely packed bands in the perineurium, which differed from the widely spaced, translucent, dark/pale gray, staggered bands in the endoneurium. CAD merging of these 2 patterns produced images resembling the bands observed in vivo . Conclusions: Two repetitive structures with different characteristics, 1 in the perineurium and the other in the endoneurium, merge to give the appearance of these bands. Muscle Nerve 46: 540–547, 2012