ABSTRACT
The dural sinuses of one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) and their connections with veins of the head and neck were described and, whenever possible, were compared with other domestic animals emphasizing species differences. Information obtained from gross dissection of embalmed camel heads was correlated with latex injected vascular casts, as well as venographs. Although the disposition of the dural sinuses, in general, was similar to those of other domestic animals, they were somewhat complex in the camel. An important venous flow mechanism which functions in the thermoregulation of the brain in the camel was described. The venous drainage of the nasal cavity and its surrounding areas had five connections with the ophthalmic plexus and the cavernous sinus: (1) the infraorbital vein----ophthalmic plexus; (2) the medial superior palpebral vein----ophthalmic plexus; (3) the medial inferior palpebral vein----ophthalmic plexus; (4) the angularis oculi----frontal----supraorbital----dorsal external ophthalmic----emissary vein of the foramen orbitorotundum----cavernous sinus; and (5) the deep facial vein----ventral external ophthalmic----emissary vein of the foramen orbitorotundum----cavernous sinus.
Subject(s)
Camelus/anatomy & histology , Cranial Sinuses/anatomy & histology , Head/blood supply , Neck/blood supply , Animals , VeinsABSTRACT
Gross and histologic features of the rostral epidural rete mirabile (carotid rete) and the cavernous sinus in one-humped camels were studied. It was evident that the branches of the carotid rete share a common tunica adventitia with the veins of the cavernous sinus. Transmission electron microscopy of the rostral epidural rete mirabile and the cavernous sinus revealed gap junctions in endothelial cells lining the walls of the arterial rete branches and veins. The internal elastic lamina of rete branches were fenestrated. Some of these structural features could facilitate countercurrent heat exchange between the rete branches and the venous plexus of the cavernous sinus to regulate brain temperature.
Subject(s)
Brain/blood supply , Camelus/anatomy & histology , Cavernous Sinus/anatomy & histology , Animals , Arteries/anatomy & histology , Arteries/ultrastructure , Carotid Artery, Internal/anatomy & histology , Carotid Artery, Internal/ultrastructure , Cavernous Sinus/ultrastructure , Maxillary Artery/anatomy & histology , Maxillary Artery/ultrastructure , Meningeal Arteries/anatomy & histology , Meningeal Arteries/ultrastructure , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Ophthalmic Artery/anatomy & histology , Ophthalmic Artery/ultrastructureABSTRACT
The dural sinuses of the pig and their connections with veins of the head and neck have been described. The rostral epidural rete mirabile and the cavernous venous sinus complex have been described in detail, and speculation about their possible role in brain temperature regulation was made.
