The venous drainage of the heart in porcupines (Hystrix cristata).

The venous drainage of the heart in porcupines (Hystrix cristata) was investigated. Each of the five adult porcupines (three males, two females) was injected with a coloured latex mixture via the V. cava caudalis for the demonstration of the cardiac veins. The dissection of the specimens revealed that the venous drainage of the heart in porcupines was made by the V. cordis magna, V. distalis ventriculi sinistri, V. proximalis ventriculi sinistri, V. cordis caudalis (the left marginal vein), V. cordis media and Vv. cordis dextrae. The cardiac veins were observed in a subepicardial course on the heart except for the R. interventricularis paraconalis. The R. interventricularis paraconalis showed an intramyocardial course until the middle of the sulcus interventricularis paraconalis, and a subepicardial course after this point. The V. cordis magna and V. distalis ventriculi sinistri opened to the sinus coronarius. The V. cordis caudalis and the V. cordis media drained into the V. cava caudalis. The venous drainage of the conus arteriosus was made by the left V. coni arteriosi opening to the R. interventricularis paraconalis, and by the right V. coni arteriosi which continued to the Vv. cordis dextrae.

The macroanatomical investigations on the aortic arch in porcupines (Hystrix cristata).

The anatomy of aortic arch in porcupine was studied. Angiography was applied to each of the three adult porcupines (two males, one female) following the injection of latex from the abdominal aorta for the examination of aortic arch. The results indicated that three arteries arose from aortic arch in porcupine. These were truncus brachiocephalicus, arteria carotis communis sinistra and arteria subclavia sinistra. The truncus brachiocephalicus in porcupine yielded arteria subclavia dextra and arteria carotis communis dextra. Truncus bicaroticus was absent. The origin of truncus costocervicalis (right) and arteria vertebralis (right) arose from a common root. Left or right axillary arteries seemed to be a continuation of subclavian arteries. The results of this study may contribute to the data in this area of science.