Morphologic Features of the Interdigital Sinus of the Tuj Sheep

Abstract

Summary This research, for the first time, documented the interdigital sinuses and their glandular structures of the fore- and hindfeet of the 10 Tuj sheep (5 male and 5 female) at gross and subgross and light microscopic levels. They were noted in all feet as peculiar tubular invaginations in-between the proximal and middle interdigital joints. The shape of the interdigital sinus resembles that of the pipe, composing of a narrow and long neck and a blind sac. The vascularization was through the 3rd and 4th palmar and dorsal digital arteries at the forefeet, and the 3 rd and 4 th plantar digital arteries at the hindfeet. The sinus was encircled with a thick capsule connected to the skin and the neighbor tissues through the connective tissue. On transversal section, there were numerous tenuous hairs clearly seen grossly on the section surface. Parenchyma and stroma units were observed in the interdigital gland. There were also hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands, muscle tissue and lymph follicles in the layer of the connective tissue. In this study, the morphological features of the interdigital sinuses and the glands that they contain was the first reported in the Tuj sheep. They were active in all feet, were supplied by different digital arteries and thus, it was supposed that the glands were very active on secretion.