Foramina and canals of the skull base in Holstein cow: a computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to describe the comprehensive morphological and morphometric features of the foramina and canals at the base of the cranial cavity in Holstein cow using CT images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on fourteen adult Holstein cow head cadavers. Images taken with MSCT were transferred to the DICOM Viewer program. The MPR and 3D reconstructive tools of the program were used to analyse the foramina and canals. RESULTS: Although they varied in shape and size, foramina and canals were found bilaterally in all animals. It was observed that the orbitorotund foramen, jugular foramen and oval foramen had a canalicular structure, with the distance between the extra-intra cranial openings measured as 15.0 mm, 5.9 mm and 6.2 mm, respectively. The hypoglossal canal, which was found to be single in 43%, double in 50% and triple in 7% in each body half, was the canal with the most variation in number and shape. The orbitorotund foramen, a canal with an area of 180.6 mm² and a diameter of 18.1 × 12.4 mm is the widest at the skull base, while the optic canal is the narrowest and longest opening with an area of 33.4 mm², a diameter of 8.4 × 5.5 and a length of 17.5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that our knowledge of skull base morphometry in animals is extremely limited. Although the study was conducted on a limited number of materials, it may benefit both regional anatomy knowledge in terms of the data presented and veterinary anatomists, radiologists and clinicians in terms of methodology.

Sphenoid sinus in the Holstein cow: A sectional and 3D reconstructive anatomical study.

Cattle disorders affecting the sphenoid sinus are underreported, likely due to difficulties in imaging and lacking topographic knowledge. This study aimed to provide a detailed description of the normal anatomical and morphometric features of the cattle sphenoid sinus. Twelve healthy adult Holstein cow heads were used, and the sinus was examined using CT, anatomical sectioning and 3D modelling. The sinus was bilaterally detected in all animals but exhibited structural asymmetry and significant interindividual differences in morphological characteristics. Three parts of the sinus were defined, namely the rostral, median and alar parts, which conform to the morphological structure of the sphenoid bone. The rostral part was bilateral in shape and located on the orbit wall of the presphenoid bone in all animals. The median part, which pneumatized the body of the sphenoid bone, was observed bilaterally in seven animals, while the alar part, which pneumatized the wing of the sphenoid bone, was formed bilaterally in four animals. The sinus volume and surface area were 11 ± 8 cm3 and 49 ± 30 cm2 , respectively. These findings may aid in the diagnosis of cattle sphenoid sinus disorders and contribute to the knowledge of regional anatomy for radiologists and clinicians.

CT and cross-sectional anatomy of the paranasal sinuses in the Holstein cow.

The structure of paranasal sinuses in cattle is difficult to understand due to its complexity, age-related changes, and insufficient published data. In this prospective, anatomic study, we described the anatomy of the paranasal sinuses in the Holstein cow using computed tomography (CT) and cross-sectional anatomic slices. Twelve healthy adult Holstein cow heads were used for this study. The heads were scanned using CT, and frozen anatomical sections were taken. The locations, borders, and relationships of the paranasal sinuses were defined on the anatomical sections and CT images. The paranasal sinuses on each side of the head consisted of conchal (dorsal, middle, and ventral), maxillary, lacrimal, palatine, frontal, sphenoid sinuses, and ethmoidal cells. The frontal sinus pneumatized all bones surrounding the cranial cavity, except for the ethmoidal and body of basisphenoid bones. The sphenoid and ventral conchal sinuses were the most asymmetrical, and the middle conchal sinus was the simplest. The ventral conchal sinus was detected in eleven animals, one of which was unilateral. This sinus communicated with the middle nasal meatus (13/21) and ventral nasal meatus (8/21). Findings can be used as background for interpreting CT studies of cattle with clinical signs of sinonasal region diseases. Future cross-sectional radiological and reconstructive anatomical studies and investigation of the postnatal development of related structures in cattle are needed.

Two- and three-dimensional anatomy of paranasal sinuses in Arabian foals.

The 2- and 3-dimensional (3D) anatomy and the morphometric properties of the paranasal sinuses of the foal have received little or no attention in the literature. The aim of this study was to obtain details of the paranasal sinuses using multiplane CT imaging to create 3D models and to determine morphological and morphometric data for the sinuses using the 3D models. The heads of five female foals were used in this study. The heads were scanned using computed tomography (CT) in the rostrocaudal direction. After the heads had been frozen, anatomical sections were obtained in the scan position. The 3D models of sinuses and the skull were prepared using MIMICS(®). These models were used to assess the surface area and volume of the sinuses, the width, height and orientation of the apertures connecting these sinuses and finally the planar relation of the sinuses with the skull. The right and left sides of all anatomical structures, except the sphenoid sinuses, had symmetric organization on CT images and anatomical sections. The total sinus surface area and volume on both sides were 214.4 cm(2) and 72.9 ml, respectively. The largest and the smallest sinuses were the frontal sinus (41.5 ml) and the middle conchal sinus (0.2 ml), respectively. It was found that the planes bounding the sinuses passed through easily palpable points on the head. In conclusion, 3D modeling in combination with conventional sectional imaging of the paranasal sinuses of the foal may help anatomists, radiologists, clinicians and veterinary students.

The segmental morphometric properties of the horse cervical spinal cord: a study of cadaver.

Although the cervical spinal cord (CSC) of the horse has particular importance in diseases of CNS, there is very little information about its segmental morphometry. The objective of the present study was to determine the morphometric features of the CSC segments in the horse and possible relationships among the morphometric features. The segmented CSC from five mature animals was used. Length, weight, diameter, and volume measurements of the segments were performed macroscopically. Lengths and diameters of segments were measured histologically, and area and volume measurements were performed using stereological methods. The length, weight, and volume of the CSC were 61.6±3.2 cm, 107.2±10.4 g, and 95.5±8.3 cm3, respectively. The length of the segments was increased from C1 to C3, while it decreased from C3 to C8. The gross section (GS), white matter (WM), grey matter (GM), dorsal horn (DH), and ventral horn (VH) had the largest cross-section areas at C8. The highest volume was found for the total segment and WM at C4, GM, DH, and VH at C7, and the central canal (CC) at C3. The data obtained not only contribute to the knowledge of the normal anatomy of the CSC but may also provide reference data for veterinary pathologists and clinicians.

The morphology of the hypoglossal dorsal root and its ganglia in Holstein cattle.

This study was carried out to describe morphologically and morphometrically the hypoglossal dorsal root and its ganglia, using heads of 20 adult Holstein cattle of both sexes. The dorsal root of the hypoglossal nerve (XII) has always an evident dorsal root ganglion (DRG) including the accessory in 30% (6 of heads) or satellite ganglia in 10% (2 of heads). There were statistically significant differences between the lengths (right: 8.64+/-0.22 mm, left: 7.91+/-0.31 mm, p<0.01) of peripheral roots of the DRG in male. Statistical significance existed in the lengths (right: 7.01+/-0.43, left: 8.27+/-0.47, p<0.05) of the central roots of the DRG in male. Since the histological findings showed that each ganglion placed on the dorsal root of the XII had the general feature of a spinal ganglion, it can be said that the XII has the intracranial peripheral (sensory) fibers and carry directly sensory input to the brain stem. In conclusion, the present study is the first to reveal the morphology of the hypoglossal dorsal root with ganglia in Holstein cattle.