Heart anatomy and topography of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Introduction The morphological study of wild animals serves as a base for more advanced studies in clinical medicine, surgery, and pathology. Due to an urgent need and demand for professionals specialized in this area, studies of this nature have become indispensable and so the objective of the present study was to describe the heart morphology of Callithrix jacchus. Methods Ten anatomic pieces of common marmoset were used. The hearts were removed and dissected for better visualization and thus to makes a detailed description of the structures of the organ of the C jacchus species. Results The C jacchus heart is similar to that of other mammals, with small anatomical modifications such as division of the apex by the interventricular grooves, shallow fossa ovalis, and less salient intervenous tubercle. Conclusions This study may serve as taxonomic base for research and also as a basis for clinical and surgical procedures with the C jacchus.