Macro-anatomy of the bones of the forelimb of Black Bengal goat (<i>Capra hircus</i>)

Abstract

In the present study, five Black Bengal goats (Capra hircus) were used to investigate the bones of fore limb during January to June 2006. It was observed topographically that the scapula was more or less similar to other ruminant animal topographically with exception that, the presence of very short coracoid process, more or less oval shaped glenoid cavity and more extensive subscapular fossa. The humerus of adult Black Bengal goat was 12.06 ± 0.27cm in length. The diameter of shaft at the level of nutrient foramen was 4.24 ± 0.05 cm. The breadth of humerus was 1.66 ± 0.06 cm. The deltoid tuberosity was less prominent and there was shallow radial and olecranon fossa. The radius of adult Black Bengal goat was 11.12 ± 0.23 cm in length. The diameter of shaft of radius-ulna just below the interosseous space was 3.86 ± 0.12cm. The total length of ulna of adult Black Bengal goat was 14.20 ± 0.20 cm. The interosseous space was found very narrow in the present study. Six carpal bones arranged in two rows, four in proximally and two in distally were found in Black Bengal goat. Two fully developed digits were found in Black Bengal goat. Each digit had three phalanges. The total length of proximal phalanx of adult Black Bengal goat was 2.88 ± 0.08 cm, in the middle phalanx it was 1.88 ± 0.03 cm and in distal phalanx the length was2.56 ± 0.05 cm. In conclusion the present data suggest that, the anatomy of the bones of fore limbs of Black Bengal goat was differed slightly, both structurally and morphometrically with other ruminants and varied widely with non-ruminant animals. Key Words: Macro-anatomy, fore limb, skeleton, black bengal goat DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v6i1.1340 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6(1): 59-66