Diagnostics · 2026Interactive
Marginal mandibular branch course
A segment-based surgical anatomy explorer: course relative to the mandibular border, facial artery and vein, three pathway types, branching, anastomoses, injury and recovery.
Profile
About
Prof. Mugurel Constantin Rusu is Professor of Anatomy and Head of the Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest. His research focuses on clinical and surgical anatomy, anatomical variation, craniofacial and skull-base anatomy, vascular anatomy, and imaging-based morphology using CT, CTA, CBCT, and MRI. He also has a longstanding research interest in microscopic anatomy, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural studies.
During 2025–2026, his research activity entered a particularly intensive phase, centred on clinical anatomy, anatomical variability, multimodal imaging, and evidence synthesis. This work included studies of the carotid and vertebral systems, skull-base venous pathways, the cervicothoracic ganglion, mandibular development, craniofacial anatomy, and rare anatomical variants. Several publications introduced new anatomical classifications, integrative models, or hypothesis-driven frameworks, while systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and critical narrative reviews became an increasingly important component of the research programme.
His work combines original anatomical observation, imaging-based analysis, and critical synthesis of the literature, with a strong emphasis on clinically relevant morphology. He also supervises student research and maintains international collaborations in clinical anatomy and morphological sciences. Selected publications are presented on this site as interactive digital research pages. ORCID: 0000-0002-8723-0540.
Position
Professor
Degrees
MD · PhD(Med) · PhD(Biol) · Habil.
Division
Anatomy · Faculty of Dentistry
Publications (WoS)346
Documents (Scopus)342
Citations (GS)5 709
Citations (WoS)4 005
Citations (Scopus)3 821
h-index (GS / WOS / Scopus)39 / 30 / 28
i10-index (GS)164
University
Carol Davila
Location
Bucharest, RO
Scientific Committee
ISCAA 2026 Vienna
17th Intl. Symposium of Clinical & Applied Anatomy · 3–6 Sep 2026
Research
Recent Publications
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
Digital Research
Interactive Papers
Selected publications are re-presented as interactive research pages that expose the anatomical argument, classifications, evidence, proposed mechanisms, and clinical or experimental implications without replacing the peer-reviewed article.
Diagnostics · 2026Interactive
Major vessels of the suprasternal space
An interactive suprasternal-notch reference system for the aortic arch, brachiocephalic trunk, left brachiocephalic vein, and sternoclavicular-joint configuration.
Diagnostics · 2026Interactive
Maxillary artery × mandibular landmarks
Explore bilateral maxillary-artery course types, infratemporal looping, gonial-angle and notch morphometry, and the near-tenfold loop-associated risk of close lingular proximity.
Surg Radiol Anat · 2026Interactive
Venous valves of the head and neck
A regional interactive map revising the textbook idea of a uniformly valveless head and neck: valve presence, IJV competence, facial infection routes, and clinical implications.
Surg Radiol Anat · 2026Interactive
Persistent proatlantal artery: types and subtypes
A course-based explorer of Type I, Type II spinal, and Type II occipital/mixed pathways, with origin, C1 transverse-foramen relation, occipital-artery incorporation, and posterior-circulation dependence.
J Neurol Surg B Skull Base · 2026Interactive
Osseous grooves are not venous sinuses
A correspondence transformed into an interactive methodological critique on what dry skulls can truly show: osseous impressions, not venous flow states or sinus pathology.
Cells Tissues Organs · 2026Interactive
PPG cell death and diabetic dry eye
Explore the experimentally anchored nitrergic apoptosis hypothesis, predicted regulated cell-death pathways, satellite-glial amplification, multi-territory secretory denervation, and the paper’s explicit falsifiable predictions.
Tomography · 2026Interactive
Stylohyoid-complex compression syndromes
Explore the proposed neural, arterial, venous, and mixed phenotypes; dynamic corridor mechanisms; imaging choices; and the cautious styloidectomy-first framework for osseous venous compression.
The Anatomical Record · 2026Interactive
Innervation of the tubarial glands
A hypothesis-driven anatomical review transformed into an explorable neural model with candidate pathways and a Tier 0–5 evidence hierarchy.
Archives of Oral Biology · 2026Interactive
Ossification of the mandible
Explore the five-mechanism composite model, regional ossification, Meckel’s cartilage signalling, and developmental timeline.
Surg Radiol Anat · 2026Interactive
Double-connected proatlantal artery + carotid duct
Trace the persisting carotid duct, the reconstituted external carotid artery, and the type II PPA with separate V3 and V2 connections.
Neuroradiology · 2026Interactive
V1 vertebral artery tortuosity
Explore the origin–entry mismatch concept, left-sided V1 tortuosity, age association, and the lack of linkage with calibre-defined dominance.
Diagnostics · 2026Interactive
Trigeminal–facial nerve connections
A mapped overview of 20 peripheral anastomoses, the sensorimotor integration argument, and the surgical, neurological, radiological, and dental implications.
Annals of Anatomy · 2026Interactive
Mandibular lingula (spine of Spix)
A critical review of lingula morphology, dry-bone versus CBCT discrepancies, landmark utility, bilateral asymmetry, and evidence-based implications for inferior alveolar nerve block and ramus surgery.
Annals of Anatomy · 2026Interactive
Absence of colonic ICC in muscularis mucosae
An interactive summary of the histological study showing no interstitial cells of Cajal in the human colonic muscularis mucosae and arguing for direct neural control of mucosal motility.
Bratislava Medical Journal · 2026Interactive
Deep circumflex iliac artery
Explore the systematic-review evidence on DCIA origin, calibre, usable pedicle length, branching, and perforator anatomy, including the important difference between parent-vessel and inguinal-ligament definitions.
Bratislava Medical Journal · 2026Interactive
Ethmoidal stromal cells with telocyte-like features
A methodological interactive focused on the >50 μm telopode criterion, immunophenotype, endothelial mimics, quantitative findings, and why the cells remain provisionally termed SCs/TCs.
Annals of Anatomy · 2026Interactive
Vertebral artery: origin, entry and V1 morphology
A side-specific CTA microsite that reads the proximal vertebral artery as a triad: origin level, transverse-foramen entry level, and V1 morphology, completed by bilateral pattern logic.
Annals of Anatomy · 2026Interactive
Combinatorial perisphenoidal anatomy
Explore the ICA, optic nerve, foramen rotundum, vidian canal and intersphenoid septum as a single combinatorial skull-base phenotype rather than as isolated landmarks.
Annals of Anatomy · 2026Interactive
External carotid artery: CTA framework
A digital companion to the ECA review, organised around bifurcation, axial spin, branching sequence, common trunks, osseous relations, distal course, and surgical corridors.
European Spine Journal · 2026Interactive
Vertebral artery loops
A meta-analytic companion on the prevalence, usual V2 topography, and local clinical consequences of vertebral-artery loops.
Anat Sci Int · 2026Interactive
High-riding vertebral artery
A definition-sensitive guide to HRVA prevalence, showing why methodology changes the estimate and why C2 screw planning must remain imaging-led.
Surg Radiol Anat · 2026Interactive
Lingual artery variability
Common trunks, hyoid–hypoglossal landmarks, and dynamic tongue-dependent topography are reassembled into a practical surgical reading path.
Diagnostics · 2025Interactive
The sensory gatekeeper of the larynx
A clinically focused interactive extension of the IbSLN review: course, branching, membrane entry, sensory function, block technique, and surgical preservation.
Clinical Anatomy · 2025Interactive
Retropharyngeal internal carotid artery
Pooled prevalence, carotid–pharyngeal distance, pharyngeal level, dynamic medialisation, and procedure-specific risk in a clinically dangerous but uncommon ICA variant.
Diagnostics · 2025Interactive
Ascending pharyngeal artery origin variants
Click through Types 0–V, compare prevalence and bilateral patterns, and see how the study extends into 40 sequential ECA branching types.
Diagnostics · 2025Interactive
Cervicothoracic (stellate) ganglion
An MRI-based locator integrated with dissection anatomy, sympathetic variation, clinical applications, and the structures at risk during block.
Medicina · 2025Interactive
Impaired internal jugular flow
A clinically focused map of jugular impairment: calibre and dominance, duplications, compressions, and the long inferior petrosal sinus novelty.
Bratislava Medical Journal · 2025Interactive
Precaval right renal arteries
Explore the CTA-derived topographic classification, 12% prevalence, five precaval subtypes, rare origins, and the previously undescribed precaval-to-retrocaval arterial anastomosis.
Medicina · 2024Interactive
Lateral pterygoid muscle variability
A structured overview of the morphological debate: head number, pennation, variable origins and insertions, accessory muscles, and the need for case-by-case anatomical evaluation.
Diagnostics · 2023Interactive
Axial spin of the carotid bifurcation
Compare six ICA–ECA rotation patterns, overall prevalence, and right-versus-left distributions across 300 bifurcations.
Medicina · 2023Interactive
Carotid–hyoid topography
Explore the null state and Types I–XII of carotid relationships to the greater horn of the hyoid bone in a bilateral CTA cohort.
Diagnostics · 2023Interactive
Vertebral artery meta-analysis
Pooled V1–V2 anatomy across 32,153 vessels: origin, transverse-foramen entry, tortuosity, hypoplasia, and dominance.
Medicina · 2023Interactive
External jugular vein variations
A morphology explorer for fenestrations, true and false duplications, triplication, absence, aberrant course, bifurcation, tributaries, and termination.
Education
Student Research Circle
The Student Scientific Circle of the Anatomy Discipline — Faculty of Dentistry, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest — is a structured extracurricular research programme coordinated by the Division of Anatomy.
Students engage in original morphological and clinical anatomy research, including CBCT-based morphometric studies, anatomical variation investigations, and case-report preparation. The circle provides hands-on training in scientific methodology, statistical analysis, abstract writing, and presentation of results at national and international anatomy congresses.
Activities include supervised laboratory sessions, journal-club discussions of current anatomy literature, participation in student research competitions, and co-authorship opportunities in indexed publications under faculty mentorship.
Presentations
Conference Abstracts & Presentations
ISCAA 2026 · Vienna
17th International Symposium of Clinical and Applied Anatomy · Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria · 3–6 September 2026
AI-Based Inference of Vertebral Artery Dominance from Calibre-Neutral V1 Course Morphology on CT Angiography
Morphological Variability of the Anterior Condylar Confluent of Trolard: A CT Angiographic Case Series Documenting Novel Venous Variants at the Craniocervical Junction
Antero-superior dehiscence of the horizontal carotid canal: a CBCT morphometric and bilateral-symmetry study of the intrapetrous carotid canal in adults
Anatomical Variations of the Deep Cervical Vein: A Pilot CT Angiographic Study of Posterior Cervical Venous Drainage
A Demand–Capacity Failure Index Identifies Mandibular Fracture Vulnerability Independent of Impact Location
Almost complete mineralisation of the epiglottic cartilage on CTA: clinical anatomy and radiological differential diagnosis
The Tentorial Bar over the Porus Trigeminus: A CBCT Prevalence and Morphometric Pilot Study
Complex Cervicothoracic Arterial Phenotype in a Bovine-Type Aortic Arch: Intramediastinal Right Subclavian Branching and Bilateral Carotid–Subclavian Crossings
The Palatine Recess of the Maxillary Sinus — Case Report, Review, and AI Comparative Analysis
Concomitant bovine aortic arch, bilateral cervical ribs, supraaortic tortuosity & segmental left vertebral artery agenesis on CTA
Maxillary artery coursing through the inferior alveolar nerve: anatomical report and focused mini-review of infratemporal neurovascular entrapment
AI Tools and the Canine Space: Citation Integrity, Anatomical Reasoning, and the Amplification of Textbook Ambiguity — A Critical Review of Five AI Tools
Anatomical Society · Bristol 2026
Anatomical Society Summer Meeting 2026 · Bristol Anatomy Centre, University of Bristol, United Kingdom · 15–17 July 2026
Structural capacity, not mechanical demand, dominates regional fracture vulnerability in the human mandible: a patient-specific finite element study
BACA · London 2026
British Association of Clinical Anatomists · Summer Scientific Meeting 2026 · City St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, United Kingdom · 9 July 2026
Overconfident at the Skull Base: Multimodal AI Error Phenotypes in CBCT Sphenoid-Sinus Surgical Anatomy 🏆 President’s Prize – Best Oral Presentation
STUDS · Marisiensis 2026
International Congress for Students, Young Doctors and Pharmacists MARISIENSIS · Tîrgu Mureș, Romania, 20–24 May 2026 · Acta Marisiensis – Seria Medica, Vol. 72, Supplement 3, 2026
A Critical Review and Hypothesis on the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Ossification of the Sphenomandibular Ligament
Anatomical Variants and Clinical Challenges of the Buccal Nerve
Artificial Intelligence Applications in CBCT Image Analysis in Dentistry
Compression Syndromes of the Styloid Process
False and True Bifid Mandibular Canals: An Evidence-Based Review
Infrazygomatic Crest and Ostiomeatal Complex Alignment on CBCT: A Reproducible Anatomical Reference for the Edentulous Posterior Maxilla
Lateral Recess Pneumatization of the Sphenoid Sinus and Neurovascular Safety Margins at the Foramen Ovale, Foramen Rotundum and Vidian Canal: A CBCT Analysis
Mandibular Ossification Revisited: A Multi-Mechanism Framework Integrating Parachondral, Juxtaparachondral, Endochondral, and Transdifferentiation Pathways
Maxillofacial Morphology and Hyoid Bone Position as Predictors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The Dentist as a Diagnostic Sentinel
Morphological Substrates of Non-Odontogenic Dental Pain
MRI and CBCT Evaluation of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Relation to Occlusion Types and Lateral Pterygoid Muscle Insertion Variations
Pneumatization-Related Variants of the Internal Carotid Artery, Optic Nerve, Foramen Rotundum, and Vidian Canal: Inter-Structural Correlations and Combined Classification Patterns
Prevalence and Morphological Characteristics of the Tentorial Bar over the Porus Trigeminus: A CBCT Study
Pterygopalatine Ganglion Cell Death as an Underrecognized Mechanism in Dry Eye Syndrome: A Hypothesis with Special Attention to Diabetic Etiology
Red Lines of the Face: Variability of the Facial Artery
The Antilingula of the Mandible and Its Relevance as a Surgical Landmark
The Buccal Fat Pad: An Accessible Craniofacial Stem Cell Niche
The Discomallear Ligament: A Narrative Review
The Nerve Behind the Block: Anatomy, Variations, and Clinical Significance of the Mylohyoid Nerve
The Sublingual Artery
Trigeminal Reflexes and Anatomical Classification Based on Specific Nuclei
Trigeminal–Facial Nerve Anatomical Connections and Their Clinical Value: A Comprehensive Review
Multiregional CBCT Assessment of Temporal Bone Pneumatization and Bony Coverage across the Geniculate Ganglion Fossa, Jugular Bulb, and Internal Acoustic Meatus
Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection of the Left Superior Pulmonary Vein to the Left Brachiocephalic Vein with Co-Existing Pulmonary Venous Variations
From Golden Hour to Hospital Survivability: A Cross-Conflict Structured Review of How Modern Wars Reshaped Military Medicine
Distinguishing True from Pseudo-Absent Styloid Process: A Case-Prompted Critical Mini-Review
Right Transverse Sinus Aplasia Identified on Three-Dimensional CT Angiography: An Archival Imaging Case Report
Transverse Infrahyoid Anastomotic Vein Between the Internal Jugular Vein and the Contralateral Brachiocephalic Vein
Unexpected Variation of a Surgical Landmark: Bilateral Deep Sternocleidomastoid with Parotid Displacement and Altered Venous Anatomy
Dent-X 2026
Congress for Students and Young Doctors "Dent-X", 6th Edition · Liga Studenților la Medicină Dentară București · Radisson Blu, Bucharest · 9–15 March 2026
The Infratemporal Fossa Approaches in Pictures: A Pictorial Review
False and True Bifid Mandibular Canals — An Evidence-Based Review
Foramen Rotundum vs. Canal of the Maxillary Nerve
Relationship Between Facial Width and Inferior Alveolar Canal Position on CBCT
The Antilingula of the Mandible and its Relevance as a Surgical Landmark
A Focused Morphometric Analysis of the Mental Foramen
Stem-Cell–Derived Ameloblasts for Enamel Regeneration: Achievements, Gaps, and Future Directions
Critical Review and Hypothesis Regarding the Ossification of the Sphenomandibular Ligament
Performance of AI Models in Text and Image-Based Anatomy Tasks
Does Facial Width Reflect Temporomandibular Joint Morphology? A CBCT Study
Anatomical Relationships between Upper Molars and the Maxillary Sinus Floor: A Comparative Review of Imaging Studies
Population Variations and Bilateral Asymmetry of the Mandibular Lingula (Spine of Spix): A Critical Review
Morphological Variability and Methodological Bias of the Mandibular Lingula
The Anatomy of the Mandibular Lingula and Its Impact on the Safety of Mandibular Procedures
Anatomy, Development and Morphological Variations of the Mandibular Lingula
Morphological Substrates of the Non-Odontogenic Dental Pain
Functional and Anatomical Implications of Trigeminal Nerve Anastomoses and Facial Nerve Reinnervation
The Anatomy of the Buccal Fat Pad
The Arterial Pedicles of the Mandible
The Discomallear Ligament: A Narrative Review
Structural Pathways of Anesthetic Failure: The Role of the Mylohyoid Nerve in Mandibular Accessory Innervation
The Buccal Fat Pad: An Accessible Craniofacial Stem Cell Niche
The Foramen Ovale: Morphometric Variation, Anatomical Relations and Clinical Implications
When Teeth Are Gone, Landmarks Remain
When the Styloid Process Isn't Really Missing: Distinguishing True Aplasia from Pseudo-Absence
Surgical Management of a Class III B Impacted Mandibular Third Molar: A Clinical Case Report
Bilateral Transverse Facial Artery Supplying the Upper Lip: A Case Report and Anatomical Review
CNSRA 2025
Al XXIII-lea Congres Național al Societății Române de Anatomie · Oradea, 20–22 martie 2025 · Sesiunea I – Prezentări Orale, 15:50–16:00
Anatomia radiologică a găurii mandibulare: un studiu CBCT
STUDS · Marisiensis 2025
International Congress for Students, Young Doctors and Pharmacists MARISIENSIS · Tîrgu Mureș, Romania, 21–25 May 2025 · Acta Marisiensis – Seria Medica, Vol. 71, Supplement 4, 2025
A CT Angiography Study of the Ascending Pharyngeal Artery Origin
Anatomical Variations of the Deep Cervical Vein: A Pilot CT Angiographic Study
The Bilateral Asymmetry of the Styloid Process: A CBCT Study
The Vertical Topography of the Foramen Rotundum
Variability of the Mandibular Condyle: A CBCT Study on its Relationship with the Mandibular Notch
Biomechanical Analysis of Mandibular Fracture Susceptibility in Military Personnel
Anatomical Variables for the Jugular Nutcracker Syndrome
Transverse Facial Arteries Supplying the Upper Lips
Long Inferior Petrosal Sinus
ΕΣΦΙΕ / IFMS·JD 2025
31st Scientific Conference of Medical Students of Greece & 19th International Forum of Medical Students and Junior Doctors · Thessaloniki, 11–13 April 2025
Beyond Two Heads: An Imaging-Based Analysis of the Lateral Pterygoid Muscle's Heads
New Perspectives on the Geniculate Ganglion Fossa: Pneumatization and Dehiscence
MEDIS 2025
Timișoara MEDIS, 25th Edition – Shape Your Skills, Grow Your Future · Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie "Victor Babeș" Timișoara · 2–6 April 2025
Meta-Analysis on the Vertebral Artery Loops
The Mandibular Condyle: Morphology and Relationship with the Temporal Bone
Dent-X 2025
Congress for Students and Young Dentists "Dent-X", 5th Edition · Liga Studenților la Medicină Dentară București · Bucharest, 2025
A New Perspective on the Articular Eminence: A Pilot Study
Condilul Mandibular: Morfologie, Simetrie și Relația cu Osul Temporal
EACA & ISCAA 2023
17th Congress of the European Association of Clinical Anatomy & 14th International Symposium of Clinical and Applied Anatomy · Prague, 14–17 September 2023
Overlaid Thyroid Cartilage by an Atavistic Hyoid Bone 🏆 Best Poster Paper
Carol Davila Congress 2022
Congress of "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest · Hybrid Edition · 10–12 November 2022 · Mædica – a Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol. 17, Supplement, 2022
The Loop of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve is a Rarely Occurring Morphology
Mandibular Foramen – Original Study and Critical Review of Literature
CBCT Assessment of the Greater Palatine Canal 🏆 Young Investigators' Award – Dental Medicine