Morphological characteristics of autopodium arteries of reindeer' thoracic limb

Abstract

In the far north, reindeer breeding is a popular direction in the development of agriculture, so veterinarians often treat limb diseases in reindeer. The aim of the study was to research the clinical and morphological characteristics and also development of arterial vessels of the distal links of the thoracic limb. 18 reindeer carcasses of different age groups from the northern mountain-taiga zone of Yakutia were studied. The area of the metacarpus includes four arterial highways: III on the palmar and one on the dorsal surface. Palmar metacarpal arteries: palmar branch (superficially under the skin and common fascia); palmar superficial II metacarpal artery (deeper along the medial edge of the interosseous muscle); palmar deep III metacarpal artery (deep trunk). The arterial highway of the finger of the hand begins from the superficial palmar branch and divides in the distal III of the metacarpus into III vessels: the common palmar finger II, III and IV arteries. The common palmar finger III artery is divided into II annular branches: the axial proper III and IV palmar finger arteries. The arteries of the lateral II and V fingers start from the common palmar finger II and IV arteries. The distal III of the metacarpus includes the superficial and deep palmar arterial arches. The superficial palmar branch and the palmar superficial II metacarpal artery form the superficial palmar arterial arch. The palmar deep III metacarpal artery, the metacarpal feeding artery, and the perforating distal metacarpal artery form a deep arc. The main arteries of the hand grow unevenly. In the postnatal period, the length and diameter of the arteries increased by 1.5-2.2 times (hand arteries – 1.7-2), to 12 months in length 87.1% and diameter of the arteries 89,3% regarding adults (hand arteries represent 89.3% and 85.3%). By the age of 3.5 years, the vessels become the longest, the diameter and wall thickness continue to grow slightly. The growth rates of the length and diameter of the metacarpal arteries during postnatal ontogenesis are similar to age-related changes in the autopodium vessels. Topographic visualization of arterial structures is used for effective therapeutic and diagnostic manipulations, surgical operations of the thoracic limb in reindeer.