Origins and ramifications of the cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries in Saanen goat fetuses (Capra hircus -- Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

The cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries of Saanen goats are found in the stomach and intestines of the animals. They were examined in the present study in order to understand the details of the arterial circulation of these organs. Thirty fetuses were examined (19 males and 11 females). To reach the objectives of the study the arteries of the area were dissected after being injected with a solution of Neoprene latex 450 colored with specific pigment. The cranial mesenteric artery originated from the aorta in the lower abdomen, and extended caudally to the celiac artery in 93.3% of the cases or to a common trunk (celiac mesenteric) in the other 6.66% of the cases. From this artery were emitted the following branches: left adrenal branches (100%); right adrenal branches (100%); pancreatic branches (96.66%); the caudal pancreatic duodenal artery (100%); the middle colic artery (96.66%); the ileac colic artery (100%); jejunal arteries (100%) and the pancreatic colic artery (3.33%). The mesenteric caudal artery originated on the ventral face of the aorta in the lower abdomen and extended caudally in 100% of the observations. It emitted the left colic artery and the cranial rectal artery in 100,0% of the cases and, in 3.33% of the cases, gave origin to the left testicular artery.