The pancreas was one of the last organs in the abdomen to receive the critical attention of anatomists, physiologists, physicians, and surgeons. [1] [2] It was first referred to as the “finger of the liver” in the Talmud, written between 200 BC and 200 AD. Galen named it (though Ruphos, circa 100 AD, should probably be credited), and thought the pancreas served to support and protect blood vess...

Polypterus,a model animal for studying tetrapod evolution The evolutionary transition from aquatic vertebrates to terrestrial tetrapods occurred around 370 million years ago in the late Devonian period. What changes in genome function caused such evolution and led to the development of new organ remains uncertain. We have been investigating the evolution of the tetrapod body plan using a primit...

Distal airways are less than 2 mm in diameter, comprising a relatively large cross-sectional area that allows for slower, laminar airflow. The airways include both membranous bronchioles and gas exchange ducts, and have been referred to in the past as the ‘quiet zone’, in part because these structures were felt to contribute little to lung mechanics and in part because they were difficult to st...