Morphology and morphometry of ramification of the aortic arch in domestic shorthair cats in the clinical aspect

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the morphology and morphometry of ramifications of the aortic arch in domestic shorthair cats in relation to the sex of the animals. The morphological study was performed on 61 hearts of adult domestic shorthair cats of both sexes, preserved in the 10% solution of formalin. Measurements of the area of openings of basic branches and distances between them were performed. In cats we can observe a double type of direct ramification of the aortic arch: the brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery. In all studied cases, the surface area of the ostium of the brachiocephalic trunk (SABT) was greater 4.94 ± 1.35 mm2 than the surface area of the ostium of the left subclavian artery (SALSA) 2.38 ± 0.88 mm2. The average difference between the opening area of the above vessels (r) amounted to 2.56 mm2. In the studied group of cats, the distance between the openings (d) varied between 0.5 and 4.37 mm. In the post hoc comparison of the mean values no statistically significant differences were found between the population of males and females. Fundamental changes in the structure of openings were found in two females. The first one concerned a secondary division of the brachiocephalic trunk opening and the second one – a secondary division of the opening of the left subclavian artery in the area of their parting from the aortic arch. CT angiography or MRI angiography is the method of choice for diagnosis of vascular disorders or malformations. The knowledge of the aortic arch morphology in various species of animals is a prerequisite for a correct assessment of the results of imaging tests.