No abstract

This study aimed at observing gross morphological and histological characteristics of the larynx, trachea and syrinx in Coturnix coturnix japonicum (Japanese quail). Sixteen mature quails were divided into two groups. Eight animals were stained with 0.1% methylene blue for 15 min, followed by 50% and 70% ethyl alcohol solution for gross morphological examination. For the observation of histological characteristics the larynx, trachea and syrinx were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Six-micron sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. There were three rows of papillae which were located oral (one row) and aboral (two rows) aspects of the mound. The cricoid cartilage was triangular in shape. Only the inlet of the larynx was covered by the olfactory mucosa whereas the rest was covered by the respiratory mucosa. There were 83-91 tracheal rings which were gradually narrowed from the cranial to the caudal direction. No overlapping occurred between the rings. The last few tracheal rings did not fuse dorsally and formed the tympanium. The pessulus possessed connection with the last tracheal ring and the first bronchial ring. Moreover, it was like a semiprism in shape at the region of bifurcation being vertical in direction. The syrinx was formed by the paired, C-shaped and incomplete bronchial syringeal cartilages. The mucosa of the syrinx was lined with a pseudo-stratified layer of prism-shaped epithelium. There were nine or 14 C-shaped cartilaginous primary bronchi.

This study was designed to reveal, in detail, the features of the auditory ossicles of the New Zealand rabbit, one of the most frequently used animals in scientific researches. Heads of 10 dead adult New Zealand rabbits of both sexes weighing 2.5 +/- 0.2 kg were used in the study. The auditory ossicles were gently removed from their situs and observed. The auditory ossicles were three small bones: the malleus, the incus and the stapes. The lenticular bone seemed to be the lenticular process, as is in human beings. In general, macroanatomic features of the bones were similar to those reported in the literature. Findings in this study, however, differed greatly, especially in detail. There were statistically significant differences in the morphometric data of the features of the auditory ossicles between the right- and left-hand sides. Data from the right-hand side were significantly higher.

Ten kidneys were investigated by corrosion cast in this study. The renal arteries divided into the dorsal and ventral branches. The dorsal and ventral branches gave off the interlobar, arcuate and interlobular arteries, respectively. No anastomoses were seen between the renal arteries and their branches. A third branch originated from the junction of the dorsal and ventral branches in one right kidney. A dorsal branch gave off an interlobar artery supplying the ventral surface of one left kidney. An interlobar artery did not arise from the ventral branch at this part.

The cranial cervical ganglion comprises neurons of especial functional importance for the head. Six specimens of heads of adult donkeys of both sexes, all of which had been exsanguinated and perfused with 10% neutral formalin for teaching purposes, were dissected to derive a gross description of the location, arrangement and branches of the cranial cervical ganglion (ganglion cervicale craniale) bilaterally. The ganglion was irregular fusiform-shaped or flattened, and reddish-grey in colour. It was 1.9-2.1 mm in length and 0.7-0.8 mm in thickness. The ganglion was located beneath the mandibular gland, caudal to the ramus of the mandible and diverticle of the guttural pouch, and ventral to the atlanto-axial joint. The branches of the ganglion were the internal and external carotid nerves, the jugular nerve, and a branch communicating with the ventral branch of the first cervical nerve fibres.