Variations in pectoral girdle muscles in dogs.

Muscle variations take the form of additional muscle bundle or belly, unusual muscle origin or termination, as well as complete muscle absence. Knowledge of such variations not only has clinical importance for guiding surgery, but also can help reveal phylogenetic relationships. To improve our understanding of muscle variations in dogs, 57 medium-sized, cross-breed male and female adult animals were dissected as part of a gross anatomy course between 2005 and 2011. Variations in pectoral girdle muscles were observed in 7 (12.3%) dogs and took the form of an additional muscle bundle in the brachiocephalicus muscle (n = 2), in the omotransversarius muscle (n = 2), in the cervical part of the rhomboideus muscle (n = 2) and in the cervical part of the serratus ventralis muscle (n = 1). Muscle variation was bilateral in only one dog; it involved the omotransversarius muscle. The variations did not seem to be sex dependent. Such variations can appear regularly in dogs and should be taken into consideration during anatomical dissection.

Possibility of blocking n. ischiadicus within foramen ischiadicum majus in sheep.

The blocking of the ischiadic nerve within foramen ischiadicus majus of 8 sheep was performed with 6-12 ml 2% xylocain from three different places: 1. From the middle of a line joining the top of processus spinosus of the 1st sacral vertebra and the peak of trochanter major. The needle pierces vertically through the skin, gluteal fascia and m. gluteus medius till foramen ischiadicum majus. 2. Along the most prominent part of crista iliaca on the gluteal surface of ala ossis ilium along the medial side of well expressed linea glutea. The needle pierces by an angle of 45 degrees through the skin, gluteal fascia and m. gluteus medius till the nerve itself. When the nerve is touched the animal makes a jerk. 3. Along the caudal part of tuber sacrale with the needle orientated caudo-ventro-laterally through the skin, gluteal fascia and m. gluteus medius toward foramen ischiadicum majus. The most appropriate approach for blocking is along crista glutea on the gluteal surface of ala assis ilii. In this approach the success is complete. The symptoms of the blocking appear immediately after the application. The complete akinesia of the limb appears 15 minutes after the application of 6 ml, and 5-10 minutes after being applied 12 ml of 2% xylocain. The blocking symptoms disappear within 90-100 or 120-140 minutes. Beside the blocking of n. ischiadicus, a simultaneous blocking of n. gluteus cranialis, n. caudalis and n. cutaneus femoris caudalis as well was performed within foramen ischiadicus majus.

Morphological investigations of the glandulae profundae plicae semilunares conjuctivae in the domestic swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) and the wild hog (Sus scrofa ferus).

Samples of glandulae profundae plicae semilunares (Harderian glands) from five domestic swine and five wild hogs were used for this research. The gland samples were fixed in Bouin solution and mounted in paraffin. The paraffin slices were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, according to the periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS) method, with alcian blue (pH 2.5), with toluidine blue (pH 4.0), and applying a combination of staining with alcian blue (pH 2.5) and the PAS method. In domestic swine and wild hogs, these glands are tubular-alveolar with wide glandular lumina. A great deal of acid mucopolysaccharides and PAS-positive substances were noted within swines' glandular cells, while, in wild hogs, PAS-positive substances were not frequent, acid mucopolysaccharides being noted in only a few glandular-acini cells. The appearance of the metachromatic phenomenon was not noted either in domestic swine or in wild hogs. In domestic swine, the level of acid mucopolysaccharides is probably due either to the housing method or to the influence of the alkaline substances that may appear on an eye's mucous conjunctive membrane during intensive breeding, such that the Harderian glands protect the mucous membrane by extracting acid mucopolysaccharides.

Anatomical possibilities of access to and blockade of m. femoralis in the dog.

The anesthesia (blockade) of canine n. femoralis may be performed either from lumbar or inguinal region. The insensibility of skin in the medial part of the thigh, tibia and tarsus as well as the akinesia of m. quadriceps femoris are attained by the anesthesia. The blockade of n. femoralis from the lumbar region often attains n. obturatorius as well. If the blockade of n. femoralis and n. ischiadicus was performed at the same time, almost all muscles of the hind limb (except m. pectineus, m. gracilis, m. obturatoris internus and m. adductor) would be inactivated, which may considerably facilitate minor surgical and postoperative interventions on the canine hind leg. Access to femoral nerve from lumbar can be recommended because of better results and easier performance and after the application of anesthetic the effect is faster and more efficient. The signs of the obturator nerve blockade were obtain in some dogs especially in dogs with long legs.

Flavin, oxidative and hydrolytic enzyme activity in the skin of Sana, Togemburg and Balkan engrafted kid breeds.

Flavin, oxidative and hydrolytic enzyme activity in the Togenburg, Sana and Balkan engrafted kid breeds, skin from the back, abdomen and leg areas was investigated. The strongest activity of the enzymes was found in the connective tissue, muscular tissue cells and sebaceous glands while the weaker activity was found in epidermis and hair follicle cells. Those are slight differences in the activity of the investigated enzymes among kid groups in the investigated part of the body.