International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology | ISSN 2326-7275 | Vol. 15 (7),  pp. 001–012, July, 2026
DOI: 10.46882/2026IJAP000111

Article Type: Perspective

Title: Stochastic Fascia: The Ionic Fabric of Consciousness - A Clinical Anatomist's Perspective

Names of Authors: John Sharkey

Author's Affiliation: Irish College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM), National Training Centre (NTC), Ireland. Email: [email protected]

Abstract:
Years of fascia-focused dissection make it impossible to regard the body as an assembled machine. Dissection reveals that there are no levers in the body and no 'layers' whereby skin is the youngest deposit and bone the oldest. In geology, layers form sequentially according to the Law of Superposition, where the deepest layer is the oldest and the most superficial is the youngest. Embryology does not work in that way. Unlike a machine, the body grows its coherence across a spectrum from softness to hardness, yet mechanistic metaphors persist: the heart as pump, the brain as computer, the tendon as pulley. Such language has profoundly influenced science, culture, and contemporary thinking around consciousness. This paper draws upon embryology, clinical anatomy, extracellular matrix biology, mechanotransduction, bioelectric signalling, autonomic physiology, and contemporary theories of biological coherence to propose that continuity precedes anatomical differentiation and persists throughout life, despite the descriptive boundaries imposed by anatomical nomenclature. Fascia is considered as a continuous, developmentally grounded, ionically active biological continuum extending throughout the organism, providing a primary component of the biological environment through which structural organisation, physiological adaptation, mechanosensation, and embodied awareness are integrated across multiple spatial and temporal scales. This paper distinguishes established anatomical and physiological evidence from theoretical interpretation and advances the hypothesis that the fascial continuum participates in the biological conditions through which embodied awareness becomes possible. Concepts including stochastic development, emergence, bioelectric morphogenesis, extracellular matrix dynamics, and multiscale biological coherence are considered within a single developmental framework that emphasises relationship over reductionism and becoming over assembly. This perspective argues that consciousness is not the spark of a biological machine but the dynamic coherence of a body that continually forms and reforms itself, with fascia providing the biological substrate through which local sensation contributes to global awareness.

Keywords: Fascia; consciousness; embryology; developmental biology; extracellular matrix; bioelectricity; mechanotransduction; stochasticity; emergence; embodiment; connective tissue; ionic coherence

Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 30, 2026; Revised: July 12, 2026; Accepted: July 13, 2026; Published: July 22, 2026.

Citation: Sharkey, J. (2026). Stochastic Fascia: The Ionic Fabric of Consciousness - A Clinical Anatomist's Perspective. International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 15(7), 001–012. DOI: 10.46882/2026IJAP000111

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 14 (6), pp. 001-004, June, 2026. 

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of the Reproductive Toxicity and Thyroid Function of Ipomoea batatas Leaf Extract in Male Wistar Rats

P. B. Udoh1*, F. V. Udoh2, I. S. Umo1 and E. V. Ikpeme3
 

1Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
3Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

Accepted 6 April, 2026

The effect of the leaf extract Ipomoea batatas was investigated on the thyroid gonadal axis of male rats. The leaf extract of I. batatas was extracted by dissolving a measured dry-powder leaf sample in a known volume of distilled water. The soaked plant sample was allowed to stand overnight for 24 h. The sample was filtered and the filtrate evaporated into solid extract. Three doses of the leaf extract of I. batatas (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg/d) were administered orally daily for three weeks. At the end of the treatment, the rats of all the groups were sacrificed and their thyroid glands and testes were isolated and fixed in Bouin’s fluid for 48 h. The sections of the tissues were processed for histopathology. The results revealed follicles hypertrophy and hyperplasia as well as reduction of colloid in the lumen of the follicles. The photomicrograph of the testes morphology revealed oligospermia, asthenospermia and abnormal sperm morphology suggesting male contraceptive property of the plant extract. These effects were also confirmed by sperm count. The possible mechanism of action could be both direct on gonads and indirect via the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis.

Key words: Thyroid, gonads, Ipomoea batatas, contraception, Wistar rats.
 

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 14 (6), pp. 001-012, June, 2026. 

Full Length Research Paper

Inflammatory Mediators, Apoptosis, and Nitric Oxide in Type II Diabetes Mellitus: Exacerbating Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Mahmoud M. Gabr1, Abdel-Aziz M. Hussein2*, Iman O. Sherif3, Sousou I. Ali3 and Hoda E. Mohamed3

1Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura, Egypt.
2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Cairo Egypt.
3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Accepted 21 September, 2025

Diabetes mellitus (DM) especially type II is a major health problem and diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is common in diabetic patients. Recent studies reported increased vulnerability of kidney to I/R injury in diabetic rats. Mechanisms behind this increased vulnerability not fully understood. The present study investigated the effect of acute ischemia for 45 min on proinflammatory cytokines, apoptotic markers, and nitric oxide (NO) in a rat model of type II diabetes. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 15, each); Group I: Normal rats, Group II: Normal rats underwent left renal ischemia for 45 min, Group III: diabetic rats without renal ischemia, Group IV: diabetic rats underwent left renal ischemia for
45 min. Blood and kidney samples were taken 24 h after ischemia. Serum glucose, fructosamine, creatinine, TNFa, as well as the expression of TGFβ, NFkappaB, iNOS, survivin, and Bcl2 in kidney tissue was measured. Type II DM caused significant increase in serum glucose, fructosamine, creatinine, and TNFa and expression of TGFβ, NFkB and iNOS in renal tissue (P < 0.001). Also, DM caused significant increase in apoptotic cell death with increase in Bcl-2 expression and decreased survivin in kidney. 45 min ischemia in diabetic rats caused more significant increase in serum TNF-a and expression of TGF-β, NF-kappa B and iNOS (P < 0.001). Also; there was a positive correlation between blood glucose and TNFa, TGFβ, NFkB and iNOS with negative correlation with survivin (P < 0.01). Type II DM render the kidney more susceptible to ischemic injury. Proinflammatory cytokines TNF-a, TGFβ, and NFkB and iNOS as well as Bcl2 and survivin may contribute to the enhanced renal ischemic injury in type II DM. Also, hyperglycaemia may be involved in hypersensitivity of kidney to ischemic injury in DM.

Key words: Diabetes, kidney, ischemia, apoptosis, TNFalpha, TGFbeta, NFkB, iNOS, Bcl-2, surviving.
 

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 14 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2026. 

Review

Evaluating the Role and Actions of Statins in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Marianne Shahsuvaryan

Yerevan State Medical University, Armenia. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 01 November, 2025

Age-related macular degeneration (ARM) is a progressive late onset disease affecting central vision. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among older adults in developed countries, and with the aging population, the problem is increasing. Current treatment options by endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors – anti-VEGF therapy are limited to the late stage of the disease, when central vision is already under great threat, and even new treatments make little impact on the rate of blindness. Monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF injections with systemic exposure to anti-VEGF will be replaced by new drugs taken in a non-invasive way. 3–hydroxy–3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors, generically termed statins are the most commonly used lipid lowering drugs. The objective of this review is to evaluate the evidence and discuss the rationale behind the recent suggestions that HMG CoA reductase inhibitors may be useful in the prevention and the treatment of age-related macular degeneration

Key words: Atherosclerosis, age-related macular degeneration, pathophysiology, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, pleiotropic effects.
 

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 14 (3), pp. 001-003, March, 2026. 

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating the Impact of Oral Assessments on Theoretical Knowledge in Physiology

Sharmila Torke¹*, Reem Rachel Abraham¹, K. Ramnarayan² and K. Asha³

¹Department of Physiology, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal 576104, Karnataka State, India.
²Department of Pathology, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal 576104, Karnataka State, India.
³Department of Biostatistics, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus) Manipal 576104 Karnataka State, India.

Accepted 12 November, 2025

Viva voce examinations formed a part of theory component of final summative examination. Since Viva voce was conducted to all students irrespective of their passing status in theory, the exercise was found to be time consuming. In this perspective, this study was conducted to determine the impact of viva voce examination on student performance in the summative examination. Three batches of first year medical students were involved in this study. Their theory and viva voce scores in Physiology were reviewed. The ratio of theory to viva voce scores of final summative examination was compared between the passed and failed students of all three batches. Results indicated that there was no correlation between student performance in viva voce examination and that of theory. However, there was no difference in the mean ratio within the batches according to passing status.

Key words: Reliability, face validity, assessment.
 

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 14 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2026. 

Efficacy and Safety of Methanolic Chrysophyllum albidum Bark Extract in a Murine Malaria Model
 

E. O. Adewoye1, A. T. Salami2 and V. O. Taiwo3*
 

¹Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
²Department of Nursing Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
³Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 October, 2025

The anti-plasmodial, hematological, serum biochemical and pathological effects of Chrysophyllum albidum methanolic bark extract were evaluated using Swiss albino male mice as models. The plant is used in Southern Nigeria as a remedy for malaria and yellow fever. The LD50 of the methanolic extract was 1850 mg/kg body weight. C. albidum methanolic bark extract (750 - 1500 mg/kg/day) exhibited significant (P < 0.05) schizontocidal activities both in a 4-day (early) infection and in an established (> 7 days) infection with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of chloroquine. The plant extract treated mice did not develop appreciable anemia. This observation shows that the methanolic extract of C. albidum contains anti-plasmodial substance(s) which help to reduce parasitaemia and hence the rate of erythrocyte destruction during infection. Organ and tissue pathology during infection was milder at low doses, compared to the untreated mice and insignificant at higher doses of the extract, showing that the extract is non-toxic. It also validates the local consumption of the extracts of C. albidum as an anti-malarial agent. Further studies need to be done to identify and characterize the active principles/ substances in the extract. This study has implications in future development of antimalarial drugs with little or no cytotoxic effect.

Key words: Chrysophyllum albidum, anti-plasmodial, haematology, serum biochemistry, organ pathology, albino mice.