Research of the Chair of Anatomy

Our current focus

• Study of new mechanisms in pathogenesis of erectile dysfunctions which can give theoretical basis for elaboration of new treatment options. Spokesperson Kersti Kokk
• Structure and blood supply of the superior part of the shoulder joint capsule. Spokesperson Elle Põldoja
• Study of markers of intervertebral disc degradation in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Spokesperson Marina Aunapuu
• Study of bone and cartilage diseases with focus on changes in the structure of the knee articular cartilage. Spokesperson Siim Suutre
• Localization of glucose transporters in the epithelial cells of the small intestines, regeneration and reparation of connective tissues, study of apoptosis in the liver. Spokesperson Piret Hussar
• Expression of signaling molecules (BMP, Pax, Shh etc) during the early stages of the central nervous system development. Spokesperson Aimar Namm

Grant

• Institute of the Estonian Language: Human histology (Associate Professor Marina Aunapuu, DMVBS21510, 16.09.2021–01.09.2026)
  

Current collaborations

Estonia:

• The chair of basic veterinary sciences and population medicine of the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the Estonian University of Life
• Traumatology and Orthopaedics Clinic of the Tartu University Hospital
• Internal Medicine Clinic of the Tartu University Hospital
• Surgery Clinic of the North Estonia Medical Centre

International:

• Riga Stradins University
• University of Lübeck, Department of Anatomy
• Tampere University
• University of Turku
• University of Oulu
• Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

Biobanks

• Bank of of histological paraffin blocks of osteoarthritic patients’ articular cartilage, synovial membranes and infrapatellar fat pads
• Historical medicine collections of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tartu

The five most important scientific articles in the last five years

1. Zirnask, Helen; Pollanen, Pasi; Suutre, Siim; Torga, Taavi; Rüsse, Samuel; Salumäe, Liis; Kotsar, Andres; Kokk, Kersti. Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue. Journal of Men’s Health, 2025; 21 (4), 102−105. DOI: 10.22514/jomh.2025.057.
2. Kõiv K, Aunapuu M, Torga T, Rätsep T, Bakhoff K, Arend A. CILP-2 expression in the intervertebral discs of patients with lumbar radiculopathy. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024; 25(1):882. doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07996-9.
3. Kibur RT, Aavik A, Torga T, Arend A, Aunapuu M. Morphological study of incompetent saphenous veins: apoptosis and ultrastructural changes of smooth muscle cells. Int Angiol. 2024; 43(2):229-239. doi: 10.23736/S0392-9590.24.05107-1.
4. Torga T, Suutre S, Kisand K, Aunapuu M, Arend A. Cartilage Collagen Neoepitope C2C Expression in the Articular Cartilage and Its Relation to Joint Tissue Damage in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. Biomedicines. 2024;12(5):1063. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12051063.
5. Taavi Torga, Siim Suutre, Kalle Kisand, Marina Aunapuu, Andres Arend. Expression of CILP-2 and DDR2 and ultrastructural changes in the articular cartilage of patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a pilot morphological study. Med Mol Morphol, 2023;56(1):46-57. doi: 10.1007/s00795-022-00339-4