Some anatomical studies on the mesenteric arteries in the red fox [Vulpes vulpes]

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out on four healthy adult red foxes to clarify the obscure mesenteric arferies which and their branches are usually involved in intestinal surgery. A suspension of 5% Barium sulphate was used in this work as both radio-opaque and vessel filler material. The results proved that the cranial mesenteric artery of the red fox arose from the abdominal aorta, at the level of the second lumbar vertebra, entered the cranial mesentery forming its root, then proceeded caudoventrally in the mesojejunum and continued as the last ileal artery. The cranial mesenteric artery gave off 1-Caudal pancreaticoduodenal artery to the right lobe of the pancreas and the descending and ascending parts of the duodenum, 2- Eight jejunal arteries, 3- Three to four ileal arteries to the ileum, 4-Ileocolic artery to the ileum, cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon and the cranial part of the descending colon. The caudal mesenteric artery arose from the abdominal aorta at the level of the caudal border of the root of the 6[th] lumbar transverse process, passed caudoventrally in the descending mesocolon, then divided into left colic artery to the caudal two thirds of the descending colon, and cranial rectal artery to the cranial segment of the rectum. Several photographs and radiographs were prepared. The obtained results were compared with their corresponding, especially in the domestic carnivores