Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive anatomic overview of normal pulmonary vascularization in an American mink (Neovison vison), with emphasis on venous and arterial peculiarities as regards its course and potential disruptions. The study is designed as macro-morphological and vascular network analysis of lungs of fifteen minks of different age and gender. Dissection is conducted along with injection corrosion method in order to clearly visualize the vascular topology, bronchial tree, arterial and venous trees, and their interconnections. The specimens exhibit consistence in the arterial branching pattern with negligible range of alterations. It was noticed that upon leaving the right ventricle of heart, pulmonary trunk divides ventrally from the site of tracheal bifurcation. The divisions were identified as left and right pulmonary arteries, which then ramified in the left and right lung, respectively. Left a. pulmonalis further divides into two major branches ramus lobi cranialis and ramus lobi caudalis, while the right a. pulmonalis gives five major branches for lobes in the right lung. Total of five pulmonary veins leave pulmonary lobes and enter left atrium of the heart. Mink has a distinct niche in biomedical research, proving as a suitable model to enhance the understandings of the various diseases. Gained insights are valuable as reference values for examination of the vasculature in other Mustelidae species, recognition of potential deviations and vascular remodeling due to respiratory diseases.
Highlights
The mink is a medium size member of the order carnivore and Mustelidae family
The principal bronchi give off smaller branches, the left lung has two lobar bronchi for its two lobes, while the right lung bronchi splits into four branches
The right pulmonary artery runs caudo-laterally, ventral to the lobar bronchi and divides into a branch for the right cranial lobe and 1 cm distally to the origin of this branch, the vessels divide into numerous branches for the lobes of the right lung
Summary
The mink is a medium size member of the order carnivore and Mustelidae family. The family involves two living species of mink, American mink (formerly referred to as Mustela vison) and European mink (Mustela lutreola) since the third species, sea mink (Neovison macrodon) rapidly became extinct. Reclassification within the family Mustelidae yielded American mink separately to belong to its own Neovison genus, while European mink remained to be a member of Mustela genus (Lopez-Giraldez et al, 2005). Despite the fact that before the divergence they taxonomically were parts of the same genus, there are some differences between these two mink species. The main differences lie in the body size, tail length and white markings on chin and lip surface, justifying that the American mink is bigger in size and exhibits longer tail. Diverse range of prey includes rodents, rabbits, fish and waterfowl (Day and Linn, 1972). It is capable of attacking prey larger than themselves, unlike its European counterpart whose diet includes some vegetation
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