| From 1980 to 1998, The Department of Anatomy
for Dental Science 2 (previously known as
The Department of Oral Anatomy 2) had Professor
Takahiko Ogata, MD. Ph.D as its department
head. During this time, his major, physical
anthropology, was exclusively studied. After previous professor retired, In August 1998, the department welcomed Professor Kazuyuki Shimada, DDS, PH.D coming from Showa University School of Medicine, who majors in macro anatomy. Since then the theme of out studies have shifted to collecting macro anatomical data, which are more widely employable in various clinical situations. The region to be studied has expanded from the head and neck into the whole body. Professor Shimada has been studying raphe in the craniocervical area, including the pterygomandibular raphe, myohyoid raphe, and the phyaryngeal raphe. The pathways of facial peripheral nerves in facial muscles as well as the morphology of trigeminal nerves and their embryological development in the early stage have been his research subjects, too. He also investigates vascular systems including mediastinal and cardiac lymphatic systems, in addition to clinical macro anatomy of coronary arteries. His further studies will develop with these previous findings. In 1999, Assistant Professor Yuichi Tamatsu DDS, Ph.D from Tokyo Dental College was also welcomed to this department. Dr. Tamatsu studies the biomechanics of bones as well as the interaction of internal osseous structures and endocrine systems with the use of micro CT. He is continuing his research to investigate the influence of currently criticized environmental hormones on the skeletal system, and to find the pathways of the nerves in intrinsic muscles of the tongue. The research Dr. Kazuharu Mine DDS, Ph.D pursuits is the morphology of the human testicular artery, focusing on its anatomy and the blood vessel model. Dr. Masami Takenaka DDS, Ph.D studies the human lumbar plexus and its morphology. The graduate students Shigemitsu Ogata are studying on the morphology and the innervation of hyoid muscles that attach to the hyoid bone. Their studies are to be diversified, without confining themselves in oral area. Microscopic analysis of the vascular system and the autonomic nervous system is one of the scheduled study themes. By having a communication and exchanging knowledge with the students of other clinical departments, their research is expected to develop, setting total clinical anatomy in scope. The name of the department was legally changed to The Department of Anatomy for Dental Science in April 2000. This was based on the idea that dental medicines require thorough anatomical knowledge, not limited to oral anatomy. Studies and education with a broader point of view has thus been launched. |
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