MORPHOLOGY OF BRACHIAL PROFUNDA ARTERY OF THE DOMESTIC REINDEER’S THORACIC LIMB IN ONTOGENESIS

Abstract

The authors argue the reindeer’s vascular morphology is not sufficiently investigated. They focus on the distal part of the thoracic and pelvic limbs, which the reindeer steps on the ground and hurts it often, as it leads to necrobacterial lesions in summer. In the postnatal period of the reindeer growth, the most intensive one in the length and diameter of the main arteries is observed in the first year, especially in the first month. During this period, the newborn deer gets into the new conditions of existence and the organs of movement become more and more functional. By the age of 3 - 3.5 years, the growth of the main arteries in length is almost over. The paper explores the features of blood supply of the thoracic limbs of a domestic reindeer, caused by the prominent growth of the second and fifth fingers. The absolute growth of arterial length in newborns and deers aged 0.5 months is 0.6 cm per day. In the following years of life, the length is reduced to 0.03 cm in the reindeers aged 3 y.o. The relative diameter of the arteries to the limb length in the postnatal period decreases from 4.4% in newborns to 3.3% in old deer. The irregularity of changes in the absolute and relative development of the thoracic limb arteries can be explained by different growth of blood vessels, bones, joints and limb muscles.