Macroanatomy of coronary arteries in Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)

The right coronary artery in the heart of chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger Molina)

The pattern of normal coronary vascularization in a mammalian heart includes the presence of both right and left coronary arteries. According to the literature data, the presence of single major coronary arteries is mainly related to cardiac abnormalities. Previously it has been reported that the right coronary artery is absent in the coronary vascularization of the heart in the chinchilla. Our research was carried out on thirty chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger Molina). The coronary vessels were filled with colored latex to render them visible. The examinations were supplemented additionally with the use of microcomputed tomography with arterial contrast. Our study demonstrates its undoubtedly presence of the right coronary artery. In all subjects the right coronary artery was present, as was the left coronary artery. Two types of right coronary artery were found. Our results indicate that the normal pattern of coronary vascularization of heart in chinchilla includes both the right and left coronary arteries. An open question remains the presence of single coronary artery is a normal pattern of cardiac arterial vascularization in chinchilla.

Histological and ultrastructural studies on the coronary artery of adult domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

The objective of this work was to study the histological structure of the dog's coronary artery by light and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The coronary artery consisted of three tunics: tunica intima, tunica media and tunica adventitia. The tunica intima consisted of endothelium rested directly on internal elastic lamina without the subendothelial connective tissue layer. The tunica media were composed of smooth muscle fibres interspersed with few elastic and collagen fibres. The tunica adventitia consisted of collagen and elastic fibres intermingled with fibroblast cells; it had vasa vasorum and nervi vasorum. Some histomorphometric measurements were performed and compared statistically. The ultrastructural study showed that the endothelial cells were communicated through complex junctions and characterised by filiform cytoplasmic processes passed through the opening of the underlying internal elastic membrane. The smooth muscle fibres of tunica media communicated with each other through cytoplasmic processes. The tunica adventitia showed minute non-myelinated nerve. This work revealed that the dog's coronary arteries are typical muscular arteries, which show little structural variations from that of other mammals.

Topography of coronary arteries and their ramifications in the goat

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology of the coronary arteries of the goat’s heart. The study was carried out on 36 hearts of adult females dairy goats, belonging to two breeds, aged 7–12 years, with an average body weight of 37 kg. A distinct view of coronary arteries and their branches was obtained by filling them with dyed synthetic latex (LBS 3060) or Batson’s No. 17. In all studied goats the common trunk of the left coronary artery was divided into the interventricular paraconal branch and the circumflex branch. The branch of the interventricular septum originated in the interventricular paraconal branch. In 25 individuals (69%) the circumflex branch ended with small ramifications on the atrial surface of the heart. In 11 individuals (31%), the vessel extended in the subsinuosal interventricular groove into the subsinuosal interventricular branch. The right coronary artery was less developed than the left coronary artery. In 35 individuals (97%) the right coronary artery ended with small ramifications on the atrial surface of the heart. In one goat (3%) the vessel reached the subsinuosal interventricular groove and extended into the subsinuosal interventricular branch.

Characterization of coronary arteries in Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla: Myrmecophagidae)

ABSTRACT Were used twelve (12) adult anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), adults, 6 (six) males and 6 (six) females, weighing from 20 to 27.32kg from free life. The thoracic cavity was opened until visualization of the whole heart and lungs and later injection of the coronary vessels. The right coronary artery emerged through a single coronary ostium of the aorta, 50%, emitting the intermediate branch and the subsinuous interventricular branch, had a path directed to the subsurface interventricular groove. In the other 50%, the right coronary artery was not present, showing only its branches, intermediate branch and subsurface interventricular branch with emergence of the aorta. Left coronary artery presented, in 83.33%, origin from the aorta in single ostium, issuing the circumflex and interventricular paraconal branches. In 16.66%, the left coronary artery was not evidenced originating from the aorta, but its branches, circumflex and interventricular paraconal.

Gross anatomy of the heart of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos, Linnaeus 1758)

The available information about anatomical characteristics of the cardiovascular system of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos, Linnaeus 1758) is scarce. The general objective of this work was to describe its heart anatomy. We dissected six adult animals and five neonates. The heart of the alpaca was located in the middle mediastinum, with a craniocaudal extension from the third to the sixth rib. No ligament that connected the fibrous pericardium to the sternum or to the diaphragm was detected. In the right atrium, there was a developed crista terminalis and small pectinate muscles. In the right ventricle, the septomarginal trabecula was very large. From the proximities of the interventricular septum arose small septomarginal trabeculae that ended in carnous trabeculae of the septal wall. The left atrium included little developed pectinate muscles. On the left ventricle, both papillary muscles were bilobed. Two left septomarginal trabeculas were detected in this ventricle. The left subclavian artery was originated from the aortic arch separately from the brachiocephalic trunk, and bicarotid trunk was present. The other branches of the subclavian artery were similar to the domestic ruminants. The arterial supply of the heart was of the right type. In conclusion, the heart anatomy of alpaca and the irrigation of thoracic cavity were more similar to those of old world camels and different from domestic ruminants.

Morphometry of the coronary ostia and the structure of coronary arteries in the shorthair domestic cat

The aim of this study was to measure the area of the coronary ostia, assess their localization in the coronary sinuses and to determine the morphology of the stem of the left and right coronary arteries in the domestic shorthair cat. The study was conducted on 100 hearts of domestic shorthair cats of both sexes, aged 2-18 years, with an average body weight of 4.05 kg. A morphometric analysis of the coronary ostia was carried out on 52 hearts. The remaining 48 hearts were injected with a casting material in order to carry out a morphological assessment of the left and right coronary arteries. In all the studied animals, the surface of the left coronary artery ostium was larger than the surface of the right coronary artery ostium. There were four types of the left main coronary artery: type I (23 animals, 49%)-double-branched left main stem (giving off the left circumflex branch and the interventricular paraconal branch, which in turn gave off the septal branch), type II (12 animals, 26%)-double-branched left main stem (giving off the left circumflex branch and the interventricular paraconal branch without the septal branch), type III (11 animals, 23%)-triple-branched left main stem (giving off the left circumflex branch, interventricular branch and the septal branch, type IV (1 animal, 2%)-double-branched left main stem (giving off the interventricular paraconal branch and the left circumflex branch, which in turn gave off the septal branch). The left coronary artery ostium is greater than the right one. There is considerable diversity in the branches of proximal segment of the left coronary artery, while the right coronary artery is more conservative. These results can be useful in defining the optimal strategies in the endovascular procedures involving the coronary arteries or the aortic valve in the domestic shorthair cat.

Coronary arteries of the European bison (Bison bonasus)

Background

The European bison (Bison bonasus) is an endangered species. More information on its anatomy is needed as only few studies have been published. This study is the first report on the morphology of the coronary vessels. Given the anatomical similarity between the European bison and other ruminants, the results of this study can be applied to other species, including endangered ones.

Results

The study was conducted on 70 hearts of European bisons of both sexes, aged 5–20 years, with an average body weight of 449 kg. A distinct view of subepicardial arterial vessels was obtained by filling them with dyed synthetic latex (LBS 3060) and Plastogen G. There was a division of the common trunk of the left coronary artery into the interventricular paraconal branch and the left circumflex branch in 63 individuals (90 %). In five individuals (7.1 %), the presence of a third vessel, which was a branch of the interventricular septum, was observed. There was a lack of a common trunk in two individuals (2.9 %). Ramifications of the interventricular paraconal branch to the wall of the left ventricle were significantly larger than those to the wall of the right ventricle. In 17 individuals (24.3 %), the right coronary artery extended into the subsinuosal interventricular branch.

Conclusion

The blood supply to the heart in bisons is provided by the left and right coronary arteries. In all the studied specimens, the left coronary artery was better developed than the right coronary artery.

Inner ventricular structures and valves of the heart in white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)

In this study, we describe the internal structures of both ventricles and the valvular apparatus of the heart of the white rhino. In the right of the heart, three papillary muscles were found in septal and marginal walls and m. papillaris magnus was the biggest. There was only one m. papillaris parvus in the right ventricle. The right atrioventricular valve was tricuspid, and the parietal cusp was longest. In the left of the heart, two papillary muscles were found on the septal wall and the subauricular was the biggest. The left atrioventricular valve was bicuspid and the parietal cusp was longest. There were no nodules in the valves of the pulmonary trunk and aorta, and the semilunar valves had many fibrous folds and transparent parts. Within the cardiac skeleton there was a cartilago cordis which occupied a small part of the right fibrous trigone. While the right ventricle included only one septomarginal trabecula, there were many trabeculae in the left ventricle. In both ventricles, the endocardium was thin and the subendocardial network was visible, also their continuation with the septomarginal trabeculae. We also found many trabeculae carneae in the dorsal part of the ventricles.