Morphology studies provide knowledge that allows us to understand how animals interact with their natural environment or in captivity. In this context, comparative anatomy on the formation of the brachial plexus has been a matter of interest since the 19th century, and remains one of the most intriguing topics of contemporary anatomy. The aim of this study was to describe the origin and the antimeric distribution of the brachial plexus nerves in Macaca mulatta, as well as the muscles innervated by it. Ten male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were used. Animals came from the Laboratory Animals Breeding Centre (Cecal/Fiocruz), and were donated to the Animal Anatomy Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Specimens were fixed in formaldehyde by infusion of a 10% solution. They were subsequently kept in low-density polythene containers with 500 L of 30% formaldehyde over a period of 12 months. In 11 plexus (55%) the resulting nerves were constituted by the connections between the ventral spinal branches C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1. In five plexus (25%), the participant roots were C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. In two (10%) plexus, they were C5, C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. In the other two (10%) plexus it was observed to be formed from C6, C7, C8, T1 and T2. The ventral branches formed three nerve trunks: cranial, middle and caudal. The suprascapular, subscapular, axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves innervated the intrinsic muscles. The subclavian, thoracodorsal, medial cutaneous nerve of the arm and forearm, long thoracic, cranial pectoral and caudal pectoral innervated extrinsic muscles. Results obtained in this study contribute to the field of comparative anatomy of primates, and provide information for applied research, serving as a basis for clinical and surgical procedures that use this species as a model animal.

SUMMARY: Rabbits have been used as urologic models in many studies. The aim of this study was to characterize the renal morphology and anatomical variations of the renal pedicle in rabbit. The research ethics committee of Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University approved this study. The animals were obtained from the university's necropsy unit. Dissections were performed in 50 adult rabbits, male and females, without macroscopic renal pathology. Kidney measurements were made with a digital caliper: length, width, and thickness. The length and origin of the renal arteries and main branches and length of the renal veins were also determined. The terminology of Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria was followed. The mean and standard deviation of the length of the right kidney was 3.150±0.2588 cm in males and 3.127±0.3769 cm in females and in the left kidney was 3.083±0.0818 cm in males and 3.162±0.0848 cm in females. The width of the right kidney was 1.933±0.0848 cm in males and 1.996±0.0680 cm in females and in the left kidney was 1.850±0.0659 cm in males and 2.004±0.0940 cm in females. There was no significant difference in the measurements between the two sexes and antimeres and in the measures of renal vessels in relation to sex, but the left artery and renal vein were always larger than the right in both sexes. The results of the present study are expected to contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of comparative and applied anatomy.

Background: Considered the most common congenital testicular abnormality of companion animals and a predisposition factor to the development of testicular neoplasia, cryptorchidism is defined as the non-descent of one or both testes to their normal anatomical location. Data on the occurrence of cryptorchidism in Brazil are scarce. The purpose of this work was to verify the occurrence of cryptorchidism in dogs of different sizes and breeds. Materials and methods: Cryptorchidism identification was carried out by ultrasound scanning, from November, 1994 to March, 2007 the Centre for Veterinarian Diagnosis and Support (Centro de Apoio e Diagnóstico Veterinário -CAD), in Rio de Janeiro. 4924 male dogs of different breeds were examined, revealing 403 (8.2%) cryptorchidism. Results: In this study, occurrence took place more often on the right testicle (59.5%), more frequently displaying inguinal localisation (59.5%) and unilateral occurrence (70%). Regarding bilateral presentation, the symmetrical form was the most common (86.8%). Cryptorchidism was more common in the inguinal region of dog of small sized breeds and in the abdominal region in dogs of medium-and large-sized breeds. Conclusions: Ultrasound scan proved a valuable diagnosis tool for cryptorchid testes, giving precise localisation and parenchymal changes thus leading to a safe clinical treatment. (Folia Morphol 2019; 78, 4: 847-852)

The Southern brown howler monkey, Alouatta guariba clamitans, is one of the largest Neotropical primates. The objective of this study was to describe the origin and antimeric distribution of brachial plexus nerves in A. g. clamitans and, thereby, to provide information for comparative anatomy and for anatomy applied to loco-regional anaesthetic blocking in primates. For this purpose, a macrodissection of 10 thoracic limbs of corpses that were collected from highways was performed, and the corpses were stored in 10% formaldehyde solution. The brachial plexus was essentially formed from the ventral spinal branches of segments C5 to T1, although in one specimen the contribution of C4 and in another specimen the contribution of T2 was registered. There was a grouping of ventral branches in cranial, medium and caudal trunks, and branches of C5 and C7 were the ones that mostly contributed to the origin of nerves from the plexus. Comparatively, the brachial plexus from A. g. clamitans reflected characteristics that are typical in the primate order, but also of mammal species that require versatility and precision in movements of the thoracic limbs. On the basis of that similarity, it is proposed that anatomic landmarks for anaesthetic block techniques used in other primate species may be successfully applied to A. g. clamitans.

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Didelphis aurita is a marsupial with wide distribution in the South American continent and highly adapted to urban centers. The objective of this study was to describe the measurements and skeletopy of the kidneys and renal vascularization of this species. With this aim, 29 cadavers (14 males and 15 females) of D. aurita collected on highways were analyzed. The rostrum-sacral length of specimens, kidney measurements (length, width and thickness) and the length of the renal vessels were measured and the renal skeletopy registered. In the right kidney, average length, width, thickness and ellipsoid volume were 28.6±5.0 mm, 15.6±2.9 mm, 12.8±3.0mm e 3.3±2.4cm 3 , respectively; in the left kidney, 31.0±3.8 mm, 14.5±3.6 mm, 12.6±2.6 mm e 3.2±2.2cm 3 , respectively. There was no significant difference in the comparison of averages of renal dimensions between sexes and between antimeres. The right renal artery (13.2±2.6 mm) was significantly longer (p < 0.01) than the left renal artery (10.7±2.3mm). Oposely, the left renal vein (13.9±3.5 mm) was longer (p < 0.01) than the right renal vein (7.0±2.3 mm). The skeletopy of the right kidney predominated between T13-L1 in 58.6% of the cases and the skeletopy of the left kidney between L1-L3 in 41.4%. The average length of the kidneys corresponded to 6 to 8% of the rostrum-sacral length of the specimens. The data of the present study characterized the measurements and topography of kidneys and renal vessels in D. aurita and can support the interpretation of clinical, experimental and pathological findings in this species.

RESUMO.-As artérias mesentéricas das aves são importantes para a irrigação do aparelho digestório e encontram-se associadas ao ganho de peso e conversão alimentar. Objetivou-se descrever as origens, esqueletopias, medidas e principais ramificações das artérias mesentéricas cranial The mesenteric arteries of birds are important for the irrigation of the digestive tract and are associated with weight gain and food conversion. This study aimed to describe the origins, skeletopy, measures and main branches of cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries in ostriches. Forty-one cadavers of ostrich chicks, 23 males and 18 females, obtained from a farmer after natural death. The cadavers were fixed with 10% formaldehyde solution and their vascular system was filled with colored Petrolatex ® S-65. The cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries and its proximal branches were dissected in situ and measured with a digital caliper. The mesenteric artery had an average length of 3.68cm±1.04 and emerged from the descending aorta at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra in most cases; it branched into jejunal and ileocecal arteries. The jejunal artery sent a mean of 14 (14.04±2.08) branches to the jejunum. The ileocecal artery sent a rectal branch and another branch that irrigated ileum, cecum and rectum. In a male specimen the ileocecal artery was originated from the celiac artery. The caudal mesenteric artery emerged in the terminal portion of the descending aorta predominantly at the level of the 4 th and 6 th sacrocaudal vertebrae. Near the caudal end of the kidney it issued the cranial and caudal branches. The first irrigated the rectum and anastomosed with the rectal branch of the cranial mesenteric artery; the second irrigated the final part of the rectum, cloaca and cloacal bursa. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) between measurements, skeletopy and number of branches of the arteries between genders.

O conhecimento das variações nos vasos renais possui importância em um programa de sistematização da anatomia radiológica e cirúrgica, tanto para o homem quanto para animais destinados a pesquisa, ensino e treinamento cirúrgico. Atenção particular é dada ao estudo desses vasos enfatizando as variações numéricas entre as diferentes espécies animais. A artéria renal direita se origina mais cranialmente que a esquerda de acordo com a posição mais cranial do rim direito. O objetivo deste relato é descrever um caso de artéria renal esquerda múltipla originando-se da superfície ventral da artéria aorta abdominal em um cadáver de gato SRD macho adulto. O mesmo foi fixado e preservado com solução de formaldeído a 10% e teve o seu sistema arterial preenchido com Petrolátex corado. O rim esquerdo apresentou artérias renais múltiplas, uma cranial e outra caudal. A primeira se originou ventralmente à aorta abdominal de forma única, emitiu ramos para a glândula adrenal, ramo lombar e bifurcou em 2 ramos : um ramo que penetrou diretamente na extremidade cranial do rim; o segundo ramo contornou a extremidade cranial do rim e penetrou na margem lateral do rim. A segunda artéria renal emergiu ventralmente à aorta abdominal de forma única e se bifurcou em duas artérias renais, uma dorsal e outra ventral ambas direcionadas ao hilo renal.