Study on the structure of the air sacs in the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) based on comparative observations with the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus), guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), common pheasant (Phasianuas colchicus), korean ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus karpowi) and indian peafowl (Povo cristatus)

Abstract

This investigation was carried out to provide a comparative anatomical picture of the air sacs between the turkey and the other species of galliformes.The results obtained are summarized as follows.As for the connections between lung and air sacs, they were usually eight connections in the domestic fowl, guinea fowl, common pheasant, korean ringnecked pheasant and indian peafowl. The connections in the turkey were usually five. No direct connection of no. 2 posterior ventral secondary bronchus to the posterior thoracic air sac, and direct connection of no. 3 anterior dorsal secondary bronchus and the connections by primary bronchus of a few tertiary bronchi formed by branches of no. 1, 2 and 4 anterior dorsal secondary bronchi to the interclavicular air sac were observed as compared with those in other species.The cervical air sac of the turkey connected to no. 1 anterior dorsal secondary bronchus, and it connected with m. longus colli on the dorsal side and with oesophagus on the ventral side. The system was the same in the other birds of the galliformes. The cervical air sac of the turkey, however, united strongly with interclavicular air sac, where situated in the both sides between the 13th and the 16th of vertebrae. The interclavicular air sac of the turkey extended to the sternal part of costae, which existed the anterior thoracic air sac in the birds of the galliformes except the turkey.In the turkey, no posterior thoracic air sac which connected to no. 2 posterior ventral secondary bronchus was seen, and the anterior thoracic air sac was observed in the same region.The diverticula, interpectoral, axillary and others in the turkey, connected to the interclavicular air sac at the part of dorsal side of pneumatic foramen of coracoideum.In the turkey air sacs were six as total, cervical (single), interclavicular (single), anteriorthoracic (paired) and abdominal air sac (paired) as compared with those of the other species which were eight (in the case of single cervical air sac) or nine (in the case of paired cervical air sac).In the method of latex, the supramedulla sacs of the turkey which communicated into the canalisvertebralis through the for. intervertebrale from the air sacs of the out side of vertebrae were not always continued in the canalis vertebralis.No existance of the supramedulla sacs was noticed in the canalis vertebralis of synsacrum.In the adult turkey, bones which communicated with air sacs were vertebrae, costae, sternum. coracoideum, scapula, humerus and os coxae.There was no sign of the air sac in the os femoris of turkey, domestic fowl and guinea fowl, having no pneumatic foramen. In the common pheasant, korean ring necked pheasant, otherwise, the air sac communicated into the os femoris in the existence of pneumatic foramen.