Seriated C.T‐Scan Of The Osseous Head In Pantera Pardus

Abstract

The osseous head in a panther (Pantera pardus) was CT‐scanned (Siemens somatom definition AS apparatus) was systematically seriated CT‐scanned, every 0,8 mm with a 1 mm thickness : 252 cross‐sections were obtained in the frontal plane with the head laid horizontally on the radiological table. In the para‐sagittal plane and in the horizontal (orbito‐meatal or Francfort plane), respectively 151 and 252 cross‐sections were reconstructed from the native ones. The morphological results were numerous and often tremendous ; the osseous structure was perfectly defined on every level of cross‐section. The exact description of the roots of the dentition was possible. Two metallic wires which solidarized the cranium and the mandible did not alter the examination. The absence of the central structures in the nasal cavities was only a missing set of data without commitment for the interpretation of the peripheral walls which were unaltered. The external reconstructions under several views were a great help in the localization of the structures.