Morphology of the transverse ligament of the atlas and the alar ligaments in the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes var)

Marta Kupczynska,Karolina Barszcz,Norbert Czubaj,Michal Wasowicz,Pawel Janczyk

doi:10.1186/1746-6148-9-64

Marta Kupczynska, Karolina Barszcz + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-64

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Abstract

BackgroundRecent new anatomical and histological features of craniocervical junction in dogs and cats were described providing evidence of differences between the carnivore species. No information on these structures in foxes exists.ResultsTwo parts of the alar ligaments were found. A longer one aroused from dens of axis to the internal (medial) surface of the occipital condyles and was called apical part. A shorter part originated from the entire length of the lateral edge of the dens of axis and terminated on the internal wall of the vertebral foramen of atlas and thus was called the lateral part. The transverse ligament of the atlas was widened in the mid region, above the dens of axis, and thickened at enthesis. Periosteal fibrocartilage was detected in the transverse ligament of the atlas at the enthesis, and sesamoid fibrocartilage was present on periphery in the middle of the ligament.ConclusionsThe craniocervical junction in foxes differs in part from other carnivores such as dogs and cats but resembles that of mesaticephalic dogs. The sesamoid and periosteal fibrocartilage supports the transverse ligament of the atlas whereas the alar ligaments have no cartilage.

Highlights

Recent new anatomical and histological features of craniocervical junction in dogs and cats were described providing evidence of differences between the carnivore species
A thorough description of the craniocervical junction (CCJ) was reported extending our knowledge of the morphology of these structures in dogs [9]
The bodyweight of the skinned individuals varied between 4.60 - 5.90 kg with a mean of 5.06 ± 0.41 kg. Both the transverse ligament of the atlas and the alar ligaments are located within the spinal canal

Summary

Introduction

Recent new anatomical and histological features of craniocervical junction in dogs and cats were described providing evidence of differences between the carnivore species. No information on these structures in foxes exists. In the veterinary literature descriptions of the morphology of atlantooccipital and atlantoaxial joints forming the CCJ exist [1,4-8] but none of these provide details on the morphology and histology of the ligaments present in these joints in pet or fur animals. Foxes are a group of animals having various races treated as separate subspecies One such example is the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes var) acknowledged as a fixed breeding form main stabilising ligaments, i.e. the transverse ligament of the atlas and the alar ligaments in farm bred silver fox

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