Thin Branches Research Articles

Vertical distribution of epiphytic lichens on Quercus robur L. in Görükle Campus Area of Bursa Uludag University (Bursa, Türkiye)

In this study, the vertical change of epiphytic lichen species on Quercus robur was examined in Johansson zones based on frequency and cover values. A total of 20 epiphytic lichen species were determined from five trees. Total frequency and cover values of epiphytic lichen species show significant changes in Johansson regions. Beta diversity and Shannon diversity index values shows significant change with Johansson zone pairs. There is a significant difference in epiphytic lichen diversity between the Z1Z2 zone pair corresponding to the base and middle part of trunk on trees, and the Z4Z5 zone pair corresponding to the branches. Athallia pyracea, Catillaria nigroclavata, Physcia adscendens and Rinodina pyrina were positively correlated with Johansson zones, while Phaeophyscia orbicularis was negatively correlated with Johansson zones. A. pyracea is an indicator species especially for thin branches (Z5). P. adscendens is an indicator for Z4 and Ph. orbicularis is for the trunk part of the tree (Z1, Z2 and Z3).

Analysis of Qualitative Indicators of Norway Spruce and Silver Fir Seed Stands in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The research aims to determine the quantity and quality of Norway spruce and silver fir seed stands in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to recommend measures for their improvement to produce the highest quality reproduction material and achieve genetic gain in newly planted forests. For this research, four measured and 19 observed phenotypic traits were analyzed in 11 Norway spruce and 14 silver fir seed stands. The average age of the trees in Norway spruce seed stands was 70 years, and in silver fir stands 85 years. The average diameter of trees in Norway spruce seed stands was 49 cm, and 46 cm for silver fir. The average height of trees for both species was 26 m. In all seed stands of both species, there was a sufficient number of favorably shaped and straight trees. There was a small incidence of forkness and a high incidence of thin and medium-thick branches. The number of branches in the whorl was high in the seed stands of both species. There was a large number of trees growing poorly and trees with poor trunk clearance from dead branches. A small number of damaged trees in seed stands were also registered, and a low percentage of trees with moderate twisting. The appearance of mistletoe was registered in silver fir seed stands. Some of the analyzed seed stands have shown very good quality, and individual selection should be made in them. In some of the analyzed stands, activities of arrangement and removal of part of the trees are necessary. Considering the great ecological-vegetation diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with four ecological-vegetation regions, 14 areas and 20 districts, most of which are also represented in the Federation of BiH, a higher number of seed stands is needed. When selecting new seed stands for spruce and fir, the focus should be on small stands that grow in extreme conditions.

A new species of Heterogorgia Verrill, 1868 (Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea) from a mesophotic fishing shoal in the eastern Pacific.

Heterogorgia abdita sp. nov. is a newly identified mesophotic octocoral species collected at Tigre shoal off Santa Elena Peninsula (Pacific Costa Rica). The new species is described based on distinctive morphological characters that classify it within the genus Heterogorgia. It is characterised by its conspicuous small branching colony with prominent calyces and thin branches. While its scleroma aligns with the genus, the presence of club-like spindles is notable, as these have previously been observed only in the sole Atlantic Heterogorgia species. This study enhances our understanding of the intriguing genus Heterogorgia and contributes to the knowledge of octocoral biodiversity within the Área de Conservación Guanacaste north Pacific Costa Rica and the broader marine biodiversity of the eastern tropical Pacific.

Cl--dependent amplification of excitatory synaptic potentials at distal dendrites revealed by voltage imaging.

The processing of synaptic signals in somatodendritic compartments determines neuronal computation. Although the amplification of excitatory signals by local voltage-dependent cation channels has been extensively studied, their spatiotemporal dynamics in elaborate dendritic branches remain obscure owing to technical limitations. Using fluorescent voltage imaging throughout dendritic arborizations in hippocampal pyramidal neurons, we demonstrate a unique chloride ion (Cl-)-dependent remote computation mechanism in the distal branches. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials triggered by local laser photolysis of caged glutamate spread along dendrites, with gradual amplification toward the distal end while attenuation toward the soma. Tour de force subcellular patch-clamp recordings from thin branches complemented by biophysical model simulations revealed that the asymmetric augmentation of excitation relies on tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium ion (Na+) channels and Cl- conductance accompanied by a more hyperpolarized dendritic resting potential. Together, this study reveals the cooperative voltage-dependent actions of cation and anion conductance for dendritic supralinear computation, which can locally decode the spatiotemporal context of synaptic inputs.

Combined non-targeted and targeted metabolomics reveals the mechanism of delaying aging of Ginseng fibrous root.

Background: The fibrous root of ginseng (GFR) is the dried thin branch root or whisker root of Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey). It is known for its properties such as tonifying qi, producing body fluid, and quenching thirst. Clinically, it is used to treat conditions such as cough, hemoptysis, thirst, stomach deficiency, and vomiting. While GFR and Ginseng share similar metabolites, they differ in their metabolites ratios and efficacy. Furthermore, the specific role of GFR in protecting the body remains unclear. Methods: We employed ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to examine alterations in brain neurotransmitters and elucidate the impact of GFR on the central nervous system. Additionally, we analyzed the serum and brain metabolic profiles of rats using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry to discern the effect and underlying mechanism of GFR in delaying aging in naturally aged rats. Results: The findings of the serum biochemical indicators indicate that the intervention of GFR can enhance cardiovascular, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism related indicators in naturally aging rats. Research on brain neurotransmitters suggests that GFR can augment physiological functions such as learning and memory, while also inhibiting central nervous system excitation to a certain degree by maintaining the equilibrium of central neurotransmitters in aged individuals. Twenty-four abnormal metabolites in serum and seventeen abnormal metabolites in brain could be used as potential biomarkers and were involved in multiple metabolic pathways. Among them, in the brain metabolic pathways, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, histidine metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism were closely related to central neurotransmitters. Butanoate metabolism improves energy supply for life activities in the aging body. Cysteine and methionine metabolism contributes to the production of glutathione and taurine and played an antioxidant role. In serum, the regulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and proline metabolism demonstrated the antioxidant capacity of GFR decoction. Conclution: In summary, GFR plays a role in delaying aging by regulating central neurotransmitters, cardiovascular function, oxidative stress, energy metabolism, and other aspects of the aging body, which lays a foundation for the application of GFR.

Pump and sway: Wild primates use compliant supports as a tool to augment leaping in the canopy.

Despite qualitative observations of wild primates pumping branches before leaping across gaps in the canopy, most studies have suggested that support compliance increases the energetic cost of arboreal leaping, thus limiting leaping performance. In this study, we quantified branch pumping behavior and tree swaying in wild primates to test the hypothesis that these behaviors improve leaping performance. We recorded wild colobine monkeys crossing gaps in the canopy and quantitatively tracked the kinematics of both the monkey and the compliant support during behavioral sequences. We also empirically measured the compliance of a sample of locomotor supports in the monkeys' natural habitat, allowing us to quantify the resonant properties of substrates used during leaping. Analyses of three recordings show that adult red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus tephrosceles) use branch compliance to their advantage by actively pumping branches before leaping, augmenting their vertical velocity at take-off. Quantitative modeling of branch resonance periods, based on empirical measurements of support compliance, suggests that monkeys specifically employed branch pumping on relatively thin branches with protracted periods of oscillation. Finally, an additional four recordings show that both red colobus and black and white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) utilize tree swaying to cross large gaps, augmenting horizontal velocity at take-off. This deliberate branch manipulation to produce a mechanical effect for stronger propulsion is consistent with the framework of instrumental problem-solving. To our knowledge, this is the first study of wild primates which quantitatively shows how compliant branches can be used advantageously to augment locomotor performance.

Coral geometry and why it matters.

Clonal organisms like reef building corals exhibit a wide variety of colony morphologies and geometric shapes which can have many physiological and ecological implications. Colony geometry can dictate the relationship between dimensions of volume, surface area, and length, and their associated growth parameters. For calcifying organisms, there is the added dimension of two distinct components of growth, biomass production and calcification. For reef building coral, basic geometric shapes can be used to model the inherent mathematical relationships between various growth parameters and how colony geometry determines which relationships are size-dependent or size-independent. Coral linear extension rates have traditionally been assumed to be size-independent. However, even with a constant calcification rate, extension rates can vary as a function of colony size by virtue of its geometry. Whether the ratio between mass and surface area remains constant or changes with colony size is the determining factor. For some geometric shapes, the coupling of biomass production (proportional to surface area productivity) and calcification (proportional to volume) can cause one aspect of growth to geometrically constrain the other. The nature of this relationship contributes to a species' life history strategy and has important ecological implications. At one extreme, thin diameter branching corals can maximize growth in surface area and resource acquisition potential, but this geometry requires high biomass production to cover the fast growth in surface area. At the other extreme, growth in large, hemispheroidal corals can be constrained by calcification. These corals grow surface area relatively slowly, thereby retaining a surplus capacity for biomass production which can be allocated towards other anabolic processes. For hemispheroidal corals, the rate of surface area growth rapidly decreases as colony size increases. This ontogenetic relationship underlies the success of microfragmentation used to accelerate restoration of coral cover. However, ontogenetic changes in surface area productivity only applies to certain coral geometries where surface area to volume ratios decrease with colony size.

Integrated municipal management of waste from tree pruning and removal

Urban forests generate a significant amount of waste from leaf fall, pruning and removal of trees. This lignocellulosic material is typically used for composting, burned (with or without energy generation) or disposed in landfills. Despite its potential use for environmentally friendly purposes, access to the material is still limited, mainly due to the lack of knowledge about its generation and quantity, difficulties in sorting, and issues related to the transport and storage of this waste. Thus, this article characterizes an urban afforestation system, quantifies the generation of waste, and proposes an integrated municipal system for the use of this waste material. After describing the procedures and operations performed for tree pruning and removal, we report a case study of the city of Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, covering a period of 15 months. We adjusted empirical equations (Log Spurr, Spurr, and Schumacher-Hall models) to estimate the volume of waste produced, serving as a basis for the development of waste quantification methods. The city was estimated to generate an average of 180 tons of afforestation waste per month, composed mainly of leaves and thin branches (69%). Composting alone was considered an inefficient use of the material (about 31% of waste is not beneficially utilized). This material can be applied for the production of different products with high added value. Models to predict the generation of waste can contribute to the planning of municipal waste management. The Schumacher-Hall and Log Spurr models produced the best results. In general, the results indicated that adequate urban planning can help reduce waste disposal and burning by local governments. Additionally, carrying out the quantification of waste and exploring the use of new recovery measures of waste from urban afforestation can help support sustainable local development.

Left main coronary artery morphological phenotypes and its hemodynamic properties.

Atherosclerosis may be linked to morphological defects that lead to variances in coronary artery hemodynamics. Few objective strategies exit at present for generalizing morphological phenotypes of coronary arteries in terms of hemodynamics. We used unsupervised clustering (UC) to classify the morphology of the left main coronary artery (LM) and looked at how hemodynamic distribution differed between phenotypes. In this study, 76 LMs were obtained from 76 patients. After LMs were reconstructed with coronary computed tomography angiography, centerlines were used to extract the geometric characteristics. Unsupervised clustering was carried out using these characteristics to identify distinct morphological phenotypes of LMs. The time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) for each phenotype was investigated by means of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the left coronary artery. We identified four clusters (i.e., four phenotypes): Cluster 1 had a shorter stem and thinner branches (n = 26); Cluster 2 had a larger bifurcation angle (n = 10); Cluster 3 had an ostium at an angulation to the coronary sinus and a more curved stem, and thick branches (n = 10); and Cluster 4 had an ostium at an angulation to the coronary sinus and a flatter stem (n = 14). TAWSS features varied widely across phenotypes. Nodes with low TAWSS (L-TAWSS) were typically found around the branching points of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), particularly in Cluster 2. Our findings demonstrated that UC is a powerful technique for morphologically classifying LMs. Different LM phenotypes exhibited distinct hemodynamic characteristics in certain regions. This morphological clustering method could aid in identifying people at high risk for developing coronary atherosclerosis, hence facilitating early intervention.

RESIDUAL NEURAL NETWORKS FOR MONOCULAR DEPTH ESTIMATION IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS

ABSTRACT: Presently, depth estimation research has focused on deep learning, mainly on monocular depth estimation, because this technique has proven to be an excellent alternative for methods that use expensive sensors or require high computational consumption, providing higher performance and accuracy. Despite there being a large number of works, most have focused on indoor and urban datasets. Due to this, we review the variants of the residual networks being trained with images of natural environments with a high presence of vegetation. We proposed a new dataset specialized in natural environments using the AirSim simulation to evaluate the variants of the ResNet and ResNeXt families and verify that these can be used to detect leaves and thin branches with their corresponding depth. We conclude that a deeper residual neural network is not always the best option for monocular depth estimation. It is necessary to consider the type of network architecture, computing resources available, and the content and size of the data set. Keywords: Deep Learning, Residual Networks, Monocular Depth Estimation

Exploiting mechanisms for hierarchical branching structure of lung airway.

The lung airways exhibit distinct features with long, wide proximal branches and short, thin distal branches, crucial for optimal respiratory function. In this study, we investigated the mechanism behind this hierarchical structure through experiments and modeling, focusing on the regulation of branch length and width during the pseudoglandular stage. To evaluate the response of mouse lung epithelium to fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), we monitored the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). ERK activity exhibited an increase dependent on the curvature of the epithelial tissue, which gradually decreased with the progression of development. We then constructed a computational model that incorporates curvature-dependent growth to predict its impact on branch formation. It was demonstrated that branch length is determined by the curvature dependence of growth. Next, in exploring branch width regulation, we considered the effect of apical constriction, a mechanism we had previously proposed to be regulated by Wnt signaling. Analysis of a mathematical model representing apical constriction showed that branch width is determined by cell shape. Finally, we constructed an integrated computational model that includes curvature-dependent growth and cell shape controls, confirming their coordination in regulating branch formation. This study proposed that changes in the autonomous property of the epithelium may be responsible for the progressive branch morphology.

Can habitat enhancement limit the ecological impacts of predatory fish stocking? An experimental approach

Fish stocking is a ubiquitous management measure in freshwater fisheries but it can induce important ecological impacts on communities and recipient ecosystems. Habitat enhancement might limit the ecological impacts of fish stocking by directly supporting biodiversity and helping to maintain ecosystem functioning. In the present, we used a mesocosm experiment to assess whether habitat enhancement, through the addition of coarse woody habitat (CWH) in the form of thin branches bundled or within an iron cage, can limit the impact of stocking of a predatory fish, juvenile largemouth bass Micropterus nigricans, on prey communities and ecosystem functioning. Results demonstrated that, prior to stocking, there was overall no significant effect of habitat enhancement on zooplankton communities and a strong effect on benthic macroinvertebrate communities that was associated with a decrease in the decomposition rate of organic matter in mesocosms containing caged-CWH. We also found that the stocking of juvenile largemouth bass significantly affected the structure of zooplankton communities while we did not observe significant effects on macroinvertebrate communities and ecosystem functioning. This effect on zooplankton community structure was compensated by habitat enhancement, notably when using caged-CWH. This study showed that habitat enhancement alone may not be sufficient to compensate the potential effects of predatory fish stocking, and that the choice of materials used to enhance habitats is fundamental in driving the efficiency.

Chemical composition and content of essential oil from cultivated bald cypress (Taxodium distichum L.)

The essential oils extracted from the cone scale (CS), seed (SE), and thin branch with leaf (BL) of Taxodium distichum harvested during the winter season were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Up to 37 components were identified, accounting for more than 96% of the total oil volume in all samples. Monoterpenes (CS 93.4%, SE 85.2%, and BL 72.8%) represented the major constituents of the essential oils, followed by smaller quantities of sesquiterpenoids. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (MH) dominated, with limonene (CS 56.5%, SE 50.5%, and BL 43.8%) and α-pinene (CS 31.7%, SE 26.1%, and BL 16.2%) being the main constituents. Representative minor constituents in the CS oil are camphene (1.3%) and bornyl acetate (2.6%); in the SE oil, β-myrcene (1.7%) and bornyl acetate (5.1%) were found; and in BL essential oil, β-myrcene (3.1%) and bornyl acetate (6%). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (CS 4.6%, SE 7.8%, and BL 12.9%) were the other major subclasses of components, with caryophyllene (CS 4.1%, SE 6.8%, and BL 9.3%) as the main constituent. The only oxygen-containing sesquiterpene found was caryophyllene oxide (CS 1.5%, SE 5.5%, and BL 8.3%). The compounds could be of great interest in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications.

Wood trait preferences of Neotropical xylophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Tree life history strategies are correlated with functional plant traits, such as wood density, moisture content, bark thickness, and nitrogen content; these traits affect the nutrients available to xylophagous insects. Cerambycid beetles feed on substrates that vary in these traits, but little is known about how they affect community composition. The goal of this project is to explore the community composition of two cerambycid subfamilies (Cerambycinae and Lamiinae) according to the wood traits in the wood they eat. In a salvage project conducted adjacent to the Panama Canal, trees were felled and exposed to Cerambycidae for oviposition. Disks from branches of differing thickness from the same plant individuals were used to calculate wood density, moisture content, and bark thickness in the field; nitrogen data were acquired offsite. Thick and thin branches tended to differ in wood trait values; therefore, data were analyzed separately in subsequent analyses. In thin branches, cerambycid abundance and species richness were higher in samples with less dense, moister wood, and thicker bark. Thick branches showed similar trends, but the wood traits accounted for little variability in beetle abundance or species richness. There were no significant regressions between beetle data and nitrogen. Cerambycines emerged more slowly, and from denser, drier wood, than lamiines. Cerambycines might be more drought-tolerant than lamiines, and therefore more resistant to the longer, more severe dry seasons that are predicted to occur due to climate change.

Unveiling Cellular Diversity in the Buffalo Corneal Stroma: Insights into Telocytes and Keratocytes Using Light Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope, and Immunofluorescence Analysis.

Telocytes and keratocytes are important cells that maintain the structure and function of the cornea. The buffalo cornea, known for its resilience in harsh conditions, has not been extensively studied regarding the presence and role of telocytes and keratocytes. We used light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunofluorescence assays with platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), CD34, and Vimentin markers to investigate their expression and localization in the cornea. TEM analysis confirmed the presence of spindle-shaped keratocytes with intercellular connections, while telocytes exhibited small spindle-shaped bodies with long, thin branches connecting to corneal keratocytes. Immunofluorescence findings showed that CD34 was more abundant near the endothelium, Vimentin was prominently expressed near the epithelium, and PDGFRα was uniformly distributed throughout the corneal stroma. Co-expression of CD34 and Vimentin, PDGFRα and Vimentin, as well as CD34 and PDGFRα, was observed in keratocytes and telocytes within the stroma, indicating the potential presence of mesenchymal cells. These results suggest the involvement of telocytes and keratocytes in corneal wound healing, transparency maintenance, and homeostasis. The co-expression of these markers highlights the critical role of telocytes and keratocytes in regulating corneal physiological functions, further enhancing our understanding of corneal biology in the buffalo model.

The Effects of Freezing Rain on Forest Stands Administered by Zalău Forestry Department During 2014-2022 Period

Freezing rain is a rare and extremely dangerous meteorological phenomenon, consisting of the fall of liquid precipitation, while the air temperature at ground level falls below 0oC, favoring the freezing of raindrops and forming an ice sheet on the surfaces on which they are deposited. In Romania, the areas affected by the freezing rain phenomenon undergo significant changes regarding the structure and composition of the forest vegetation. The main purpose of this work is to figure out how to manage the forest stands affected by the freezing rain identifying optimal solutions for ecological reconstruction and prevention of significant damages. For the research of the affected areas, we placed 7 experimental areas, having the size of 500 m2 each, all the trees that were in this radius were inventoried. In this research work we evaluate the presence of this phenomenon which was reported in the Stejarul Zalău Forest District, in 2014, then in 2017, but with a lower intensity. Out of a total of 1627.6 ha, 500 ha were affected by the freezing rain, most of them being surfaces with beech forest stands with a consistency of 0.9, having a high slenderness index. Following the results obtained, it was observed that the most affected trees were the youngest. These having a reduced diameter, thin branches and a high slenderness coefficient.

AVDNet: Joint coronary artery and vein segmentation with topological consistency

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is an effective and non-invasive method for coronary artery disease diagnosis. Extracting an accurate coronary artery tree from CCTA image is essential for centerline extraction, plaque detection, and stenosis quantification. In practice, data quality varies. Sometimes, the arteries and veins have similar intensities and locate closely, which may confuse segmentation algorithms, even deep learning based ones, to obtain accurate arteries. However, it is not always feasible to re-scan the patient for better image quality. In this paper, we propose an artery and vein disentanglement network (AVDNet) for robust and accurate segmentation by incorporating the coronary vein into the segmentation task. This is the first work to segment coronary artery and vein at the same time. The AVDNet consists of an image based vessel recognition network (IVRN) and a topology based vessel refinement network (TVRN). IVRN learns to segment the arteries and veins, while TVRN learns to correct the segmentation errors based on topology consistency. We also design a novel inverse distance weighted dice (IDD) loss function to recover more thin vessel branches and preserve the vascular boundaries. Extensive experiments are conducted on a multi-center dataset of 700 patients. Quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method by comparing it with state-of-the-art methods and different variants. Prediction results of the AVDNet on the Automated Segmentation of Coronary Artery Challenge dataset are avaliabel at https://github.com/WennyJJ/Coronary-Artery-Vein-Segmentation for follow-up research.

A marginal branch of the left hepatic artery running along the umbilical vein and supplying the anterior surface of the liver left lobe: a report of 5 cases in 12 Japanese human fetuses.

In human fetuses, the left hepatic artery (LHA) issues the marginal artery that runs along the umbilical vein and, sometimes, reaches the umbilicus. The further observation demonstrated that, in 5 of 12 Japanese midterm fetuses (crown-rump length mm: 46, 50, 54, 59, 102), the marginal artery issued not only a thin umbilical branch but also a liver parenchymal branch that took a posterosuperior recurrent course in a peritoneal fold and supplied the anterior surface of the liver left lobe (segment III). However, in 22 Spanish fetuses of which gestational ages corresponded to the Japanese ones, we did not find the parenchymal branch. Therefore, between human populations, there seemed to be a considerable difference in the incidence as to whether or not the marginal artery issues the liver parenchymal branch. The parenchymal branch might be degenerated at the later stages due to friction between the liver free surface and growing diaphragm.

Valorisation of olive tree prunings for the production of particleboards. Evaluation of the particleboard properties at different substitution levels

Olive prunings are, in the majority of cases, treated as agricultural residues and burned in open fires or mulched into soil. However, they can be exploited in various ways and offer added value. Apart from their exploitation for energy purposes, they can be potentially used for the production of other bio-commodities such as particleboards, used in the construction and furniture sector. In this light, the current study investigates the potential of producing particleboards from olive tree prunings by replacing common wood. Harvested olive tree prunings, thin branches along with leaves, were used for the production of particleboards by gradually replacing commercial wood at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% rate. Based on the results achieved, a maximum substitution level of 40% of the conventional wood with pruning material can be applied. The mechanical properties of the panels were reduced by increasing the substitution level. This may be attributed to the higher amount of bark compared to the conventional wood chips, and the presence of leaves. On the other hand, particleboard properties such as the formaldehyde emissions of the boards (along with the thickness swelling) are reduced by increasing the substitution level, which makes the panels safer in terms of indoor pollution and human health and more consumer friendly, and attractive for the market.

Investigation of anastomoses between coronary arteries in Akkaraman sheep by plastic injection and corrosion method.

Since it is critical to understand the anatomy of the coronary arteries and the anastomoses between them in Akkaraman sheep, the coronary arteries will be examined using a plastic injection and corrosion technique. In our investigation, researchers used 20 Akkaraman sheep's hearts collected from slaughterhouses in and near Kayseri, and hearts from animals aged 2-3 years were included. The anatomy of the coronary arteries of the hearts was studied by plastic injection and corrosion method. The macroscopically examined patterns of the excised coronary arteries were photographed and recorded. This approach indicated arterial vascularisation of the heart in sheep, with a. coronaria dextra and a. coronaria sinistra developing from the commencement of the aorta. It was determined that a. coronaria sinistra, after leaving the initial part of the aorta, proceeds to the left and divides into two branches called r. interventricularis paraconalis and r. circumflexus sinister, forming a right angle between them, immediately after reaching the sulcus coronarius. Anastomosis of the branches of r. distalis atrii dextri with the branches of r. intermedius atrii dextri and r. ventriculi dextri; anastomosis of a thin branch separated from r. proximalis atrii sinistri with the branch of r. proximalis atrii dextri running in the initial part of the aorta; anastomosis of r. distalis atrii sinistri with r. intermedius atrii sinistri were detected. In one heart, the r. septalis protruded roughly 0.2 cm from the beginning of a. coronaria sinistra.