Dimensions of the cranium and of the cranial cavity andintracranial volume in goats (Capra hircus LINNAEUS, 1758)

ABSTRACT

The aim of this project is to determine the dimensions of the cranium and the cranial cavity and the intracranialvolume in goats, using 64 adults. The dimensions of the cranium and cranial cavity were measured throughmetric tape and paquimeter, considering the intervals of the largest distances. To determine the intracranialvolume, balloons of latex were introduced in the cranial cavity, through the magnum foramen, later on, filledwith water that was transferred for graduate test tube. The average and the standard deviation of length, widthand height of the cranium, in millimeters, were respectively 218.01 ± 6.96, 120.17 ± 10.01 and 108.14 ± 4.46.The average and the standard deviation of length, width, height, in millimeters, and of the volume of thecranial cavity, in cubic centimeters, were respectively 109.31 ± 7.25, 61.36 ± 4.51, 63.85 ± 2.88 and119.31 ± 12.21. It was observed that, the width of the cranium possesses positive significant correlationswith the length (r = 0.6865), with the height (r = 0.5644) and with the intracranial volume (r = 0.5436).They were still established, positive significant correlations among the height of the cranial cavity, with thelength (r = 0.5682) and with the intracranial volume (r = 0.5473). Differences were evidenced between malesand females, in relation to the dimensions of the cranium and cranial cavity. There wasn’t difference of theintracranial volume in function of the sex of the goats.