hassen jerbi

SUMMARY: The macroscopic anatomy of the stomach in four adult dorcas gazelle was described. Four adult, two male and two female dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas) of the Frigya Zoological Park, Enfidha, Tunisie, were used in this study. The ruminal papillae were distributed unequally in the rumen, and were larger and more abundant within the atrium and in the two saccus cecus. The papillae were absent in dorsal part of the dorsal sac. The ruminal pillars had no papillae. The cellulae reticuli were divided and contained secondary and tertiary crests. The curvatura omasi measured 12.1±0.1 cm. A comparison with literature data for sand gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica) emphasises that differences between closely related species that fill similar niches cannot be expected to follow a clear pattern, but yield an inhomogenous picture, with some measurements more tending towards a specific feeding type in the one, and some other measurements tending more towards that feeding type in the other species.We concluded that the stomach morphology of the dorcas gazelle indicates the'cattle-type' morphophysiology representative for intermediate feeders.

The incidence of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries is one of the highest of all equine musculoskeletal conditions. Horses with SDFT injuries commonly show no improvement of lameness on soft ground, unlike those suffering from distal bone or joint lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the SDFT loading in five horses at the walk and trot on asphalt and sand using a non-invasive ultrasonic tendon force measurement device. Three horses were equipped with the ultrasonic device, whereas the other two horses were equipped with the ultrasonic device and a dynamometric horseshoe (DHS); the DHS was used to calibrate the measured values of tendon speed of sound (SOS) converted to tendon force, while a previously established ground reaction force pattern was used to calibrate SOS measurements for the other three horses. Although the horses tended to be slower on S, maximal tendon force was higher on sand than on asphalt at the trot (+6%); there was no significant difference between the two surfaces at the walk. The duration of tendon loading was longer on S (+5%) and the area under the tendon force-time curve was larger on S (+10%) at both walk and trot. SDFT loading is significantly affected by the ground surface and the observed increase in SDFT loading on sand compared with asphalt is consistent with clinical observations in horses with SDFT injuries.

Five sound mature horses, age 8-14 years, with toe angles 45.5-55.0 degrees were placed on a specially designed platform with only the left forelimb weightbearing, which allowed the successive production of 7 different conditions of foot orientation: neutral position (N), 5, 10, 15 degrees heel (H5, H10, H15) and toe (T5, T10, T15) elevation, performed according to 2 different sequences. For each condition, 2 lateromedial radiographs were taken to evaluate the metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) and both interphalangeal joint (PIPJ and DIPJ) angles, respectively. In addition, two-dimensional (2-D) kinematic recordings, using reflective skin markers placed laterally on the left forelimb joints, were performed. The value of each joint angle (JA) and its angular variation to N (AV) were considered for statistical analysis. For all JA and their AV determined radiographically, the condition effect was significant and the sequence did not influence the differences between conditions. The relationships between the JA and the conditions (in the sequence: T15, T10, T5, N, H5, H10, H15) were overall linear for the 3 joints. The maximal range T15-H15 was mean +/- s.d. 6.9 +/- 2.0 degrees for MPJ (dorsal angle decrease), 7.3 +/- 1.0 degrees and 29.5 +/- 1.8 degrees for PIPJ and DIPJ (palmar angle decrease), respectively. Contrary to JA and in spite of large variations in hoof conformation, AV did not show any significant horse effect. Wide differences were observed between the digital JA measured radiographically and from kinematics, which could be related to cutaneous displacement. Heel elevation induced elbow flexion, whereas a slight extension was observed with toe elevation. These movements, even slight (mean elbow angle amplitude: 3.6 +/- 1.3 degrees), may have consequences upon flexor tendon tension.

Introduction: The venous blood drainage of the head of most domesticated animals was studied by many authors. In this respect in the one-humped camel only brief general description was given. The present investigation was carried out to get detailed and sufficient description of the origin, course, situations, arrangements and branches of the venous drainage of the head and brain.

Methods: Five head-neck regions of adults one-humped camel were collected immediately following slaughter and injected with 10% formalin. After fixation, a solution of blue latex was injected through the cannulated bilateral external jugular vein. This injection was performed under hand pressure and was stopped when the small vessels in the conjunctiva become visible to the naked eye. Both side of each specimen were carefully dissected.


Results: The venous drainage of head and neck: the head and neck is drained by the external jugular vein. The internal jugular vein is a small vessel draining some of the structures of the neck only. The external jugular vein is formed by the confluence of the maxillary and linguofacial veins. The venous drainage of the brain: this system follows the arterial pattern. From the surface of the brain the cerebral veins drain into a system of valveless spaces within the dura mater. A dorsal system along the floor of the cranium was present with connections between them. They leave the cranium by means of emissary veins.


Conclusions: The present investigation reveals quite a number of interesting features characteristic to the species. The internal jugular vein was Very short and big.  Were noted intracranial connections between dorsal and ventral systems of dural sinuses. Cavernous sinuses had a plexiform appearance intermingling with the rostral epidural rete mirabile.

Tension of the tendons of the equine distal limb is mainly conditionned by the insertions and
paths of the tendons. The latter are closely related with the joints (carpus,
metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints) movements. Functional anatomy of the
palmar tendons of the horse’s hand (superficial and deep digital flexor tendons and their
respective accessory ligaments, and IIIrd interosseous muscle) is first described. Results of in
vivo biomechanical studies are then presented : they allow a quantification of the loads and
strains supported by the different tendons during locomotion. The biomechanical
consequences of sagittal modification of foot orientation (heel / toe elevation), essential for
the management of tendonitis, are also mentioned. Lastly, tendons in vitro mechanical
properties are presented. Comparison of maximal strength, as determined in vitro, with in vivo
data, reveal that the palmar tendons function with a very slight security margin in the equine
athlete.

We dissected and described the macroscopic anatomy of the donkey. Eleven domestic donkeys of both sexes from Tunisia were used for this study. Although statistically insignificant, length values of the gastrointestinal tract pertaining to the females were generally higher than those pertaining to the males. The ostium cardiacum was very narrow and its diameter was 4.42 ± 0.57 mm in the males and 6 ± 1.22 mm in females. In the first part of the duodenum, we found papilla duodeni major and papilla duodeni minor. Both papillae were located very near to each other with a distance less than 1 cm and very near to the ostium pyloricum. The cecum was divided in parts of basis, corpus and apex. Three flexures divided the ascending colon into four parts: right ventral, left ventral, left dorsal and right dorsal. The cecum, left ventral colon and right dorsal colon had more evident sacculations (Haustra ceci and coli) (Fig. 5). Teniae numbers were constant in all animals as 4, 4, 4, 1, 3 and 2 for cecum, right ventral colon, left ventral colon, left dorsal colon, right dorsal colon and descending colon, respectively. Although the gross anatomy of the intestines of the donkey was similar to the domestic horse in general, we detected some differences between these equine species.

Abstract: Problem statement: The Oryx antelope is a grazing ruminant of the Bovidae family. The
macroscopic anatomy of the stomach in one adult Oryx dammah, an extinct species in the wild, was
described. Approach: The stomach of the Oryx was composed of the four classic compartments of
the ruminants. The weight of all the full stomach was 21.5 kg. The ruminal papillae were distributed
unevenly in the rumen. Results: The maximum height of the cristae reticuli was 0.3 cm. The
Cellulae reticuli were divided and contained secondary and tertiary crests. The Curvatura omasi
measured 30.0 cm and the omasum had 15 primary, 9 secondary, 30 tertiary and 34 cuaternary
Laminae omasi. The abomasum had about 17 Plicae spirales abomasi.
Conclusion/Recommendations: We concluded that the stomach morphology of the Oryx had
characteristics of the others grazing feeders ruminants. An important limitation of this study is the
fact that we used only one animal, further studies of the digestive system of this species are necessary.

A method is detailed allowing the computation of three-dimensional (3D) joint angles. Each joint of the equine digit is modelled as a sequence of three single axis rotary joints. The Joint Coordinate System was used; it involves a specific sequence of cardanic angles. The decomposition of the angles was chosen so that the three elementary angles coincide with the flexion/extension, passive abduction/adduction and lateral/medial rotations. The algorithms and kinematic procedures were described for the equine front digital joints. This method was tested in vitro on four forelimbs. For each limb, angle values were measured while the member was loaded by a press (from 500 to 6000 N). These tests were repeated while a wedge raised one part of the hoof (toe, heel, lateral and medial sides) in order to induce modifications of the angular patterns of the joints. This method allowed a precise quantitative determination of 3D joint movements. The modifications occurring with the wedges are clearly identified and confirm some previously published semi-quantitative observations. Moreover, this method provides a way to collect objective data on the functional anatomy of joints and could be used to study connective shoeing thoroughly. It may be directly applied to other species and may be used by researchers interested in discreet articular movements, especially occurring in other planes than the sagittal one.

The incidence of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries is one of the highest
of all equine musculoskeletal conditions. Horses with SDFT injuries commonly show no
improvement of lameness on soft ground, unlike those suffering from distal bone or joint
lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the SDFT loading in five horses at the walk and
trot on asphalt and sand using a non-invasive ultrasonic tendon force measurement device.
Three horses were equipped with the ultrasonic device, whereas the other two horses were
equipped with the ultrasonic device and a dynamometric horseshoe (DHS); the DHS was used
to calibrate the measured values of tendon speed of sound (SOS) converted to tendon force,
while a previously established ground reaction force pattern was used to calibrate SOS
measurements for the other three horses. Although the horses tended to be slower on S,
maximal tendon force was higher on sand than on asphalt at the trot (+6%); there was no
significant difference between the two surfaces at the walk. The duration of tendon loading
was longer on S (+5%) and the area under the tendon force-time curve was larger on S
(+10%) at both walk and trot. SDFT loading is significantly affected by the ground surface
and the observed increase in SDFT loading on sand compared with asphalt is consistent with
clinical observations in horses with SDFT injuries.

SUMMARY: The barbary stag is an intermediate feeder ruminant of the Cervidae family. The macroscopic anatomy of the
stomach in one adult barbary stag was described. The stomach of the barbary stag was composed of the four classic compartments of the
ruminants. The weight of the full stomach was 10.5 Kg. The ruminal papillae were distributed unevenly in the rumen. The maximum
height of the cristae reticuli was 0.2 cm. The cellulae reticuli were mostly undivided. The curvatura omasi measured 15.0 cm and the
omasum had 15 primary, 10 secondary, 10 tertiary and 17 cuaternaryLaminae omasi. The abomasum had about 12 plicae spirales
abomasi.We concluded that the stomach morphology of the barbary stag had characteristics of other intermediate feeder
ruminants.
KEY WORDS: Abomasum; Abdomen; Cervidae; Forestomach; Proventriculus.
INTRODUCTION
The classification of ruminants into three groups
according to their feeding types (browsers, intermediate
feeders, grazers) has been linked to anatomical studies,
mainly of African, European, and North American species
(Hofmann,1973, 1988). Most cervids are considered either
browsers (i.e., natural diet consisting mainly of
dicotyledonous forage, like tree foliage, herbs, or wild fruits)
or intermediate feeders (i.e., consuming monocotyledonous
forage – grasses – to a certain degree, mostly dependent on
seasonal variation in forage availability) (Hofmann, 1985).
The barbary stag (Cervus elaphus barbarus), or atlas
deer is a subspecies of red deer that is the only member
of the deer family that is native to Africa in the countries of
Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.
Cervus elaphus was considered an intermediate feeder,
with a tendency to include more browse than grass intheir
natural diet (Gebert&Verheyden-Tixier, 2001).
In this work we described the stomach of one male
Cervus elaphus

"SUMMARY: The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is both the largest extant ruminant and a strict browser. We dissect and
describe the macroscopic anatomy of the mouth of the giraffe. The heads of two adult giraffes and one fetus were used in this study. Thelips were well developed, the upper one was predominant and dorsally flattened near the nostrils. The tongue had a lift or lingual torusand rostrally to it a groove-shaped depression or fossa linguae. There was no adipose body of cheek (Corpus adiposum buccae). The hardpalate in the giraffe had 18 Rugae palatinae. The final roughness reaches the caudal border of the premolar 3. Caudal ridges had nopapillae. The parotid gland was small and consisted of two lobes, one rostral and one caudal to be separated dorsally to accommodate theparotid lymph node. The parotid duct followed the same way as in the cow, ended in front of the upper premolar tooth 2 in the parotid
papilla, (not evident at mucosal surface). Mandibular gland was divided into two lobes, the rostral one placed in the intermandibularspace and the caudal hidden by the parotid gland. Giraffes have the monostomatic and polistomatic sublingual glands. The monostomaticsublingual gland was located rostrally and joined to the monostomatic of the other side in the very narrow rostral intermandibular space.The polistomatic sublingual gland was caudally located and reached the level of the third molar and at a deeper level than the monostomatic.The studied giraffes had dorsal, ventral and intermediate bucal salivary glands. Leaving aside the differences caused by different dimensions,the mouth of the giraffe had in general a similar anatomical arrangement to the cow.
KEY WORDS: Mouth; Giraffe; Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi; Macroscopic anatomy."

The proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) has always been considered as a low-motion joint with an almost constant angle during loading of the limb. Until very recently, its motion was not taken into account in kinematic studies in vivo. Recent in vivo studies yielded surprisingly high ranges of motion in this joint. The aim of this study was to measure, in terms of the 3 possible rotations (flexion/extension, collateromotion and axial rotation), the movements of the PIPJ in vitro during limb loading in a neutral position (500-6000 N) and after the addition of heel and toe wedges (6 degrees and 12 degrees). The joint coordinate system, as it was recently described for use in the horse, was used to compute the 3 components of rotation. With the hoof in neutral position, low-amplitude flexion movements (7.9 degrees) were observed. They were not associated with collateromotion or axial rotation. The flexion of the joint increased exponentially with load suggesting that, during the midstance phase, heavy loads are necessary to evoke substantial flexion. Raising the heels induced an early flexion of the joint with an increase of its total amplitude. Raising the toe produced an extension at 500 N, beyond which the amount of flexion was reduced. These results show that PIPJ flexion/extension during in vitro loading remains substantially smaller than suggested by in vivo studies based on skin markers. Raising the toe or heel directly affects the behaviour of this joint, but does not induce motion outside the sagittal plane. Hoof wedges are commonly used in clinical practice for purposes other than affecting PIPJ motion. In these cases, their biomechanical effects on this joint should be taken into account.

The purpose of this study was to quantify small amplitude rotational movements in the metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) of the horse and to measure the influence of asymmetric placement of the foot on these articular angles. Trihedrons, supporting kinematic markers defining a local frame, were screwed into the third metacarpal bone and the proximal phalanx of 4 isolated forelimbs. The limbs were loaded in a press, and the lateral or medial aspects of the foot were raised alternately by a 12 degrees wedge. The use of the joint coordinate system permitted the simultaneous and continuous computing of the 3 angles of rotation of the joint. During neutral loading, the extension of the MPJ (38.4 +/- 8.7 degrees) was associated with lateral axial rotation of the proximal phalanx (1.8 +/- 0.9 degrees). Addition of a lateral wedge induced medial rotation (-0.9 +/- 0.2 degree) and abduction (2.1 +/- 0.4 degrees) of the proximal phalanx. The opposite phenomenon was observed with a medial wedge. These quantitative results confirmed the combination of axial rotation and widening of the articular space on the opposite side to the raised part of the foot that had earlier been observed in semi-quantitative studies. Despite the high congruence of this joint, this study demonstrated the significant influence of uneven bearing of the foot on the three-dimensional (3-D) behaviour of the MPJ. Even though the amplitude of these movements remained small, their biomechanical effects should be considered to improve our understanding of MPJ injuries and to rationalise exercise management and corrective shoeing in the lame horse.

"The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that tendon echogenicity is associated with the material properties of the corresponding tendon site, especially in case of lesions, due to local changes in tendon matrix composition. Four normal and nine spontaneously injured equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) were isolated then ultrasonographically examined under tension, in a special device placed in a water bath. Ultrasonographic transversal images (7.5MHz linear transducer) of five segments along each tendon were digitized, and analyzed in order to measure the mean cross-sectional area (MCSA) and mean echogenicity (ME) of each segment. The tendons were then tested in traction until rupture in a testing machine. For each segment, stress and strain were determined throughout the test, and the elastic modulus (EM) was evaluated. The tendon lesions were also documented by histology.No correlation was found between ME and the material properties of normal tendon segments. At the rupture sites of the nine diseased tendons, ME was positively correlated with maximal stress and EM, whereas no correlation was demonstrated with maximal strain. Besides, a positive correlation was demonstrated between ME and both MCSA and EM, when the three metacarpal segments of the diseased tendons were considered. Although ME gives only rough information about tendon matrix structure, it does show, under these in vitro conditions,significant correlations with material properties of pathological tendon segments, which may improve the functional significance and
therefore the pronostic value of the ultrasonographic examination of tendon lesions."

"The species belonging to the order Rodentia have great noticeable differences in their intestinal anatomy, particularly in the cecum and ascending colon. The anatomy of the intestines and its their mesenteries of Chinchilla lanigera have not been completely described. In the present study, ten adult Chinchilla lanigera were studied using gross dissection. The small intestine was divided into duodenum, jejunum and ileum as usual. The duodenum started at the pylorus with a cranial portion, which dilated forming a duodenal ampulla. The ileum was very short and attached to the coiled cecum by means of the iliocecal fold. The ascending colon presented three parts. The first one, starting from the cecum and attached to it by the cecocolic fold presented sacculations on its external part. This could be named proximal loop (Ansa proximalis coli), having two parts, a proximal and distal one. The second part of the ascending colon was simple (Pars intermedia). The last part
of the ascending colon (Ansa distalis coli) extended from the intermediate part to the right colic flexure. The distal ansa was formed by two parts parallel to each other and joined by an apical flexure and the ascending mesocolon. The descending duodenum was fixed to the pars intermedia of the ascending colon by a peritoneal fold named accessory duodenocolic fold. The ascending duodenum was fixed by the duodenocolic fold to the descending colon. This study indicates that there are minor differences in the divisions of the intestine and their peritoneal folds, as it usually happens when comparing other rodents.
Keywords: rodentia, digestive system, abdominal organs, mesentery"

"Introduction: The arterial blood supply of the head of most domesticated animals was studied by many authors, in this respect in the one-humped camel only the brief general description given. The present investigation was carried out to get detailed and sufficient description of the origin, course, situations, arrangements and branches of the arteries supply to the head.

Methods: Five head-neck regions of adult one-humped camel were collected immediately following slaughter and injected with 10% formalin. After fixation, an solution of red latex was injected through the cannulated bilateral common carotid arteries. This injection was performed under hand pressure and was stopped when the small vessels in the conjunctiva become visible to the naked eye. Both side of each specimen were carefully dissected.


Results: the common carotid artery is characterized both by its collateral branches and its terminal branches. It provides three branches to the thyroid gland and ends of two dissimilar arteries, the occipital artery and external carotid artery. Unlike other domestic ruminants, the internal carotid artery is constant. The plane surface of the head is supplied almost exclusively by one source, the superficial temporal artery. As for deep structures, they are fed by a large maxillary artery whose trip, reports and distribution are comparable to those of other domestic ruminants.


Conclusions: The present investigation reveals quite a number of interesting features characteristic to the species. In the order Artiodactyla, the pattern of the arterial supply to the head of one-humped camel differs considerably from other ruminants. At the level of the axis the common carotid artery give off three branches to the thyroid gland. Maxillary artery has an entirely extraosseus course.
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