Video Documentary of Situs Inversus Totalis in a Male Cadaver Module 1: Initial Discovery of Situs Inversus Totalis

Abstract

Abstract Situs inversus totalis is a condition in which the internal organs of the human body are transposed to opposite sides. On average, 1 in 20,000 individuals has situs inversus totalis. Although there have been many case reports published about this condition, there are no video documentaries illustrating the unique placement of the organs and their corresponding vasculature. Situs inversus totalis requires students, educators, and clinicians to think differently about anatomy because the organs have been transposed to opposite sides and the vessels arise in unusual locations and follow divergent paths. Their understanding of this condition is important, as clinicians in various specialties are likely to treat an individual with a situs variation at some point in their careers. This resource is part of a series of eight documentaries that provide video illustrations and quizzes on the detailed dissection of a male cadaver with situs inversus totalis. In the two videos provided, the initial discovery of inversus totalis is described. Initial discovery of the cadaver reveals general gross organ arrangement with some vascular and nerve variations of the thorax and abdomen. For self or group study, individuals should watch the two initial discovery videos on situs inversus totalis and note the differences in anatomical placement of the situs inversus cadaver from normal anatomy. Students, educators, physicians, and other healthcare professionals can test their knowledge in each section with a quiz as they compare situs inversus totalis to normal anatomy, also known as situs solitus. For instructional purposes, we advise distributing the quizzes associated with each video after the presentation to test for knowledge or for practice purposes.

Keywords

• Situs Inversus Totalis
• Flipped Organs
• Dextrocardia
• Situs Ambiguous
• Situs Solitus