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Vascular anatomy of a dicephalic cat
J Camón1, D Sabaté, E Degollada
1Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
Anatomy and Embryology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Anatomical study of a rare dicephalic cat reveals unique arterial and venous systems in its duplicated heads. Findings suggest common patterns in congenital cephalic duplications regarding blood supply to medial head aspects.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Anatomy
- Comparative Anatomy
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Congenital cephalic duplications in mammals are rare but offer insights into developmental anomalies.
- Understanding the vascular system in such cases is crucial for comparative anatomy and veterinary medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the arterial and venous systems of a dicephalic iniodymic monosomic cat.
- To compare the observed vascular patterns with existing literature on congenital cephalic duplications in mammals.
Main Methods:
- Detailed anatomical dissection and description of the arterial and venous vasculature of the neck and heads.
- Comparative analysis of the findings with published data on similar congenital anomalies.
Main Results:
- An anomalous lingual branch of the right external carotid artery formed a supernumerary common carotid artery supplying both heads.
- A supernumerary jugular vein was identified, formed by the union of linguofacial veins and a midline vein connecting to the internal jugular system.
- Observed patterns suggest a tendency for medial head arterial supply from the external carotid's lingual branch, often with right-sided predominance.
Conclusions:
- The arterial supply to the medial aspect of duplicated heads in mammals may originate from the lingual branch of the external carotid artery.
- Venous drainage patterns in cephalic duplications vary, with carnivores forming a midline supernumerary external jugular vein and ruminants an asymmetrical one.