Arteries in horses are blood vessels responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart to various tissues and organs throughout the body. These vessels are integral to the circulatory system, facilitating the delivery of essential nutrients and oxygen to maintain cellular function and overall health. The structure of equine arteries includes a thick muscular wall that accommodates the high pressure of blood flow, allowing for efficient transport. Research on equine arteries often focuses on their anatomical characteristics, physiological functions, and potential disorders that may affect them, such as atherosclerosis or aneurysms. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that examine the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of arteries in horses.
Evans DL, Rose RJ.The effects of a respiratory gas collection mask on arterial blood gases, acid base values, oxygen content, respiratory frequency and heart rate, were investigated in standardbred horses during treadmill exercise at speeds up to 10 m sec-1 and a treadmill slope of 10 per cent. The mask had no significant effect on heart rates during exercise, but respiratory frequency was lower when the mask was used. The increase in respiratory frequency as treadmill velocity increased was also significantly slower with the mask operative. Arterial carbon dioxide tensions were significantly higher during exer...
Marais J, Masty J.Scanning-electron-microscopic examination of corrosion casts was used to investigate the microcirculation of the coronary border of the equine hoof. Numerous peg-shaped capillary plexuses derived from arterioles extended distally from the dorsal branches of the digital arteries parallel to the hoof wall. The plexuses varied in length and consisted of a fine network of interconnected capillaries that converged to join a centrally situated venule. These centrally situated venules within the papillary plexuses gave rise to a vast venous plexus deep to the coronary band.
Fritsch R, Hausmann R.In 26 horses measurings of blood pressure, using the Dinamap 1255 research monitor, were performed and compared for accuracy with blood pressure values obtained by direct measurement in the arteria carotis. It was found that oscillometrically ascertained initial blood values in standing horses have a sufficient correlation to initial blood pressure values obtained by direct measurement. But every blood pressure change is registered too late, when using the oscillometric blood pressure apparatus. This temporal delay becomes unacceptable, when a considerable increase in blood pressure occurs. A ...
Manohar M, Gustafson R, Goetz TE, Nganwa D.Effects of 1.1, 1.5, and 1.8 minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) isoflurane-O2 (1.45%, 1.96%, and 2.39% end-tidal isoflurane, respectively) anesthesia on cardiac output, blood pressure, and blood flow to the brain, thyroid glands, adrenal glands, kidneys, and splanchnic organs were examined in 9 healthy isocapnic adult ponies. Tissue blood flows were studied using 15-micron diameter radionuclide-labeled microspheres that were injected into the left ventricle, and comparisons were made with data obtained from ponies in the conscious state. Isoflurane anesthesia caused dose-related reduction in...
Caron JP, Fretz PB, Bailey JV, Barber SM, Hurtig MB.Epistaxis, caused by guttural pouch mycosis, was treated by balloon-tipped catheter and ligature occlusion of the involved arteries in 13 horses. In 7 horses, more than one artery was catheterized. Serious postoperative hemorrhage was prevented in all horses. Long-term endoscopic follow-up examination was possible in 8 horses, and all had complete regression of the fungal lesion as early as 5 weeks after surgery. Six of the 8 horses did not receive medical treatment. Problems related to the use of the balloon-tipped catheter technique were rare. There were incisional infections in 3 horses, ca...
Grandy JL, Steffey EP, Miller M.Arterial blood was collected from 25 clinically normal horses immediately before and serially throughout the first hour of halothane oxygen anaesthesia. Blood was analysed for oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaO2, PaCO2). Measurements of inspired oxygen concentration during anaesthesia permitted direct correlation with blood gases. Horses were divided arbitrarily into two groups based on their age: two to seven years, n = 15; over seven years, n = 10. Average (+/- sd) PaO2 and PaCO2 was 14.1 +/- 1.5 kPa (106 +/- 11 mmHg) and 5.9 +/- 0.6 kPa (44.4 +/- 4.4 mmHg) respectively in consc...
Ward DS, Fessler JF, Bottoms GD.Electromagnetic flow transducers were implanted via left thoracotomy in 8 ponies (122.7 to 263.6 kg) around the main pulmonary and left main coronary arteries for continuous measurement of mean and pulsatile blood flow. Flow transducers were calibrated in vitro with a gravity flow system. The mean +/- SE pulmonary flow was 73.1 +/- 5.1 ml/kg of body weight/min. Left coronary flow was 0.95 +/- 0.07 ml/kg/min (1.3% of cardiac output) and was not believed to be an accurate measurement. This was caused by the inability to implant a zero-flow occluder, requiring the use of minimum flow during systo...
Wetmore LA, Derksen FJ, Blaze CA, Eyster GE.The relationship between mixed venous O2 tension and cardiac output was studied in six anesthetized horses breathing 100% O2. Cardiac output, O2 consumption, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and arterial and venous blood gases were measured after administration of xylazine or dobutamine to horses in lateral, sternal, and dorsal recumbencies. After approximately 3 hours, Escherichia coli endotoxin was administered while horses were in dorsal recumbency, and all measurements were repeated. Relationships between cardiac index (CI) and PVO2, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, jugular PVO2, and...
Manohar M.1. Transmural distribution of myocardial blood flow was studied using 15 micron diameter radionuclide-labelled microspheres in six normal ponies and nine splenectomized ponies at rest, and during maximal exercise performed without as well as with adenosine infusion (3 microM kg-1 min-1). The splenectomized ponies were also studied during submaximal exercise performed at 75% of the workload. 2. Maximal exertion in normal ponies increased heart rate (348%), mean arterial blood pressure (40.9%), rate-pressure product (563%), arterial O2 content (43.2%), and mean pulmonary artery pressure (247%). ...
Mason DE, Muir WW, Wade A.The effects of body position and postoperative oxygen supplementation on arterial blood gas tensions (PaO2 and PaCO2) and pH were examined in clinically normal adult horses during recovery from halothane anesthesia. Hypoxemia developed during recovery from anesthesia in spite of adequate alveolar ventilation in horses without postanesthetic oxygen supplementation. Hypoxemia developed in horses positioned in left lateral or right lateral recumbency, and in horses that were rolled to the opposite side during the recovery period. Arterial blood gas tensions were not significantly (P greater than ...
Slocombe JO, McCraw BM, Pennock PW, Ducharme N, Baird JD.A preliminary investigation was made into the effect of fourth-stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae sequestered in the tunica media of ileocolic arteries of pony foals treated with ivermectin. The foals had been reared parasite-free, inoculated with infective larvae and given orally a placebo or ivermectin paste. Two foals received subsequently one or two further inoculations with larvae and treatment with ivermectin. Arteriography was used to identify the lesions in the ileocolic artery following inoculation and their regression following treatment. At necropsy, foals were examined for lesions an...
Reef VB, Roby KA, Richardson DW, Vaala WE, Johnston JK.Two dimensional ultrasonographic evaluation of the iliac arteries and terminal portion of the aorta was utilized in 18 horses with histories of exercise intolerance or hindlimb lameness. A plaque or thrombus was imaged in one or more of these vessels in 5 horses. In 2 horses, the initial rectal examination findings were normal and the thrombus may have been missed without the use of diagnostic ultrasonography.
König HE, Ries R.The ovary of the mare is vascularized by two branches of the A. ovarica, which differ in diameter. They take a characteristic course in this organ. Near the ovulation fossa several branches of 1st and 2nd class leave the A. ovarica to provide the functional structures. These vessels are formed like a corkscrew. At the veins and its ramifications there are sphincter-like structures which support the venous valves. They are of haemodynamic importance for the different phases of the functional structures.
Steffey EP, Dunlop CI, Farver TB, Woliner MJ, Schultz LJ.Circulatory and respiratory function was monitored in nonmedicated, spontaneously breathing horses (n = 7) immediately before, during, and 1 hour after 85 +/- 4.1 (X +/- SEM) minutes of constant 1.57% isoflurane in O2 anesthesia. Comparison of values during anesthesia with those obtained while horses were awake revealed a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in arterial blood pressure that was related to a slight, but insignificant, decrease in cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance. Although isoflurane anesthesia and recumbency resulted in a significant (P less than 0.05) decrea...
Thomas WP, Madigan JE, Backus KQ, Powell WE.Cardiopulmonary function was studied in 10 full-term healthy foals from birth to 14 days of age. Systemic and pulmonary haemodynamics were recorded in lateral recumbency via indwelling aortic and pulmonary artery catheters. Mean body weight increased from 45.4 +/- 2.4 kg on Day 1 to 70.6 +/- 6.1 kg on Day 14. All foals had a continuous murmur of patent ductus arteriosus for 3-6 days. From Day 1 (12 h old) to Day 14, heart rate increased (89 +/- 4 to 95 +/- 5/min), mean aortic pressure increased (87.7 +/- 1.9 to 100.3 +/- 3.2 mmHg), mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased (38.6 +/- 4.6 to 27.4...
Franco RM, Ousey JC, Cash RS, Rossdale PD, Silver M.An electronic sphygmomanometer which functions on oscillometric principles, was used to measure arterial blood pressure in foals. Its accuracy was assessed by comparison with results obtained by direct measurement in anaesthetised pony foals, aged 34 to 64 days. Correlations between data obtained by the two methods were highly significant but the sphygmomanometric readings were consistently lower than those obtained by direct measurement. An equation was derived from the pooled values for mean, systolic and diastolic pressure measurements. This was used as a correction factor when the oscillom...
Forster HV, Pan LG, Bisgard GE, Flynn C, Hoffer RE.Carotid body-denervated (CBD) ponies have a less than normal increase in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) when inspired CO2 (PICO2) is increased, even when pulmonary ventilation (VE) and breathing frequency (f) are normal. We studied six tracheostomized ponies to determine whether this change 1) might be due to increased alveolar ventilation (VA) secondary to a reduction in upper airway dead space (VD) or 2) is dependent on an upper airway sensory mechanism. Three normal and three chronic CBD ponies were studied while they were breathing room air and at 14, 28, and 42 Torr PICO2. While the ponies were br...
Manohar M.Using radionuclide-labelled microspheres, 15 micron in diameter, we studied blood flow in the respiratory muscles (diaphragm and intercostal muscles), abdominal organs (adrenal glands, kidneys, pancreas, spleen and the small and large intestines), muscles of propulsion (gluteus medius and biceps femoris), and other working (triceps brachii and longissimus dorsi lumborum) and non-working (temporal and masseter) muscles of ponies at rest and during maximal exercise performed on a treadmill. During maximal exercise heart rate, whole body O2 consumption, cardiac output and mean aortic pressure inc...
Walker M, Geiser D.Heart rate, blood velocity, volumetric blood flow, and arterial diameter for 10 horses given acetylpromazine were determined from measurements of the dorsal metatarsal artery 3 (the great metatarsal artery), using 2-dimensional real-time and gated pulsed Doppler ultrasonography. Acetylpromazine induced significant increases in arterial diameter (P less than 0.01) and volumetric flow rate (P less than 0.05)--all compatible with adrenergic blockade. There was a trend indicating that there was increased blood velocity. Heart rate was unchanged.
Lamar CH, Turek JJ, Bottoms GD, Fessler JF.Certain in vitro culture conditions were determined for equine endothelial cells obtained from the aorta and pulmonary arteries. Cells were enzymatically isolated from the vessel lumen, using clostridial collagenase (2.5 mg/ml of Hanks's balanced salt solution) incubated at 37 C for 30 minutes. Cells were cultured in alpha minimum essential medium supplemented with plasma-derived and nonplasma-derived bovine fetal sera, endothelial cell-growth supplement, heparin, and antibiotics. Smooth muscle cell growth was not inhibited with nonplasma-derived animal sera, plasma-derived equine serum, or he...
Wyn-Jones G, Jones RS, Church S.One of the major obstacles to successful intranasal surgery in the horse is haemorrhage, even minor interferences causing profuse bleeding. Conventional techniques for haemostasis are ineffective or inhibit the progress of the surgery. Temporary bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery resulted in a substantial reduction in haemorrhage during intranasal surgery in five horses, with much improved visibility and facility of operation. The large contribution to the circle of Willis by the ventral spinal artery is believed to prevent cerebral ischaemia during this procedure. This paper des...
Orr JA, Erichsen DF, Shirer HW, Allen PL, Payne PA.The aim of this study was to determine whether increases in ventilation would occur during intravenous acid infusion even if systemic arterial pH was held constant. In six awake ponies, HCl (500 ml, approximately 0.312 M) was infused into the right atrium at a total dose of 1.0 meq/kg over 18 min while an equivalent dose of NaOH was infused into the left heart to restore systemic arterial pH to normal. Total ventilation increased at the onset of the infusion and remained elevated although systemic arterial pH was normal to slightly alkaline. The increase in ventilation during the initial 2 min...
Tithof PK, Rebhun WC, Dietze AE.A linear array 5 mHz ultrasonic scanner was used to diagnose aorto-iliac thrombosis in a 3 year old Standardbred gelding. There are no reports in the literature of utilization of ultrasonography for visualization of an aortic thrombus. The technique is fairly non-invasive, requiring only a rectal examination with a linear array probe. Arteriography is the only other method described for actual visualization of a thrombus. This procedure is technically difficult and highly invasive.
Spier S.A 3-day-old foal was examined because of forelimb lameness. Brachial artery occlusion was diagnosed. The foal was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed brachial artery thrombosis and an atrial septal defect.
de Oliveira AC, Rosenbruch M, Schulz LC.The morphology of asteroid bodies in equine arteries is demonstrated by light microscopy as well as by scanning and transmission electron microscopy combined with chemical analysis. Asteroid bodies first occur in horses at four weeks of age in all investigated tissues except the esophagus and always are located in the subendothelial space. The number, shape, ultrastructure and chemical composition of asteroid bodies differ markedly--depending on the age of the horse. Asteroid bodies are round and smooth in foals, but are shaped irregularly and have several projections and marked stratified cal...
Trim CM, Moore JN, Hardee MM, Hardee GE, Graham DA.Prostacyclin was infused IV into 6 horses anesthetized with halothane. Three dosage rates (10, 30, and 100 ng/kg of body weight/min) were evaluated in each horse. Facial and pulmonary artery pressures, heart rate, cardiac output, blood temperature, and arterial and mixed venous pH, PCO2, and PO2 were measured. Arterial blood was collected for determination of glucose, lactate, and PCV. Mixed venous blood was sampled for assay of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and catecholamines. Infusion of prostacyclin at 10 ng/kg/min had no effect on the variables measured, whereas the 30 ng/kg/min dosage dec...
Meyer RE, Short CE.The correlation between end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 (PETCO2) and arterial (PaCO2) was determined for spontaneously breathing ponies under halothane or isoflurane anesthesia. The PETCO2 was useful as a trend indicator of PaCO2 during the first 60 minutes of halothane or isoflurane anesthesia when PaCO2 values were less than 60 to 70 mm of Hg. Halothane anesthesia lasting greater than 90 minutes was associated with PaCO2 values in excess of 60 to 70 mm of Hg, a large arterial- to end-tidal PCO2 difference (PaCO2-PETCO2) and a significant increase in alveolar dead space. These effects were ...
Manohar M.1. Left ventricular (LV) myocardial O2 extraction was studied in five healthy ponies which had catheters implanted in the great cardiac vein and main pulmonary artery 15-30 days before the study. The abdominal aorta was percutaneously catheterized to sample arterial blood. 2. In addition, phasic LV and aortic pressures, LV dP/dtmax and rate-pressure product were also studied; dP/dtmax is the maximal rate of rise of the left ventricular pressure during the isovolumic phase, and is considered an index of myocardial contractility. Measurements were made at rest (control) and during adenosine infu...
Taylor PM.Doxapram, 0.05 mg/kg bodyweight/min, was infused during the second hour of 2 h halothane anaesthesia in six ponies. Two of the ponies were anaesthetised on a second occasion as controls and given 5 per cent dextrose in place of the doxapram. Respiratory depression typical of halothane anaesthesia in ponies developed in the first hour of anaesthesia and continued during the second hour in the control animals. During doxapram infusion arterial carbon dioxide tension decreased and pH increased. Arterial blood pressure increased but there was no change in pulse rate, the electrocardiogram or arter...
Benamou AE, Marlin DJ, Lekeux P.Based on previous in vitro studies, we hypothesised that endothelin (ET) would induce vasoconstriction in the pulmonary circululation of the horse and that this action would be mediated via ET(A) receptors. Pulmonary and systemic haemodynamic responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoactive endogenous peptide, were investigated in 6 conscious, nonsedated horses at rest. Bolus i.v. injections of exogenous ET-1 (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 microg/kg bwt) caused significant increases in pulmonary (PAP) and carotid (CAP) artery pressures, with peak increases of 79% and 51% for mean PAP and CAP, respecti...
Teeter MG, Arroyo LG, Bakker JD, Hayes MA, Viel L, Runciman RJ.Arterial calcification is found frequently in the pulmonary artery of racehorses, but the aetiology is unknown. Calcification might be associated with increased wall stress due to arterial geometry (shape) and exercise-induced hypertension. Objective: High wall stress levels are found in the regions associated with calcified lesion formation, exacerbated as transluminal pressure increases to levels associated with exercise. Methods: The pulmonary arteries of 5 horses, unaffected by calcification, were dissected and pressurised to resting and exercising physiological transluminal pressures and ...
Baxter GM, Tackett RL, Moore JN.Palmar digital arteries and veins removed surgically from healthy horses under general anesthesia were cut into 4 mm vascular rings, suspended in tissue baths, and attached to force displacement transducers for continuous measurement of vascular tension. In vitro vascular responses were determined for acetylcholine, acepromazine, isoxsuprine hydrochloride (isoxsuprine), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin). After preconstriction with norepinephrine hydrochloride (norepinephrine), or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), the concentrations needed to produce 50% maximum re...
Pietra M, Guglielmini C, Nardi S, Gandini G, Cipone M.To describe the pulsed-wave Doppler tracing of the equine lateral palmar digital artery and its modification in relation to standardized changes in posture. Methods: 17 healthy Saddlebred horses. Methods: Pulsed-wave Doppler examinations of left and right lateral palmar digital arteries of the horses were performed. The baseline examination was performed on each forelimb while horses were standing squarely with the body weight equally distributed among the 4 limbs (BED position). For each forelimb, the examination was repeated during 3 standardized modifications of the horse's posture (non-wei...
Reiser V, Reiser A, Licka TF.To identify and measure radiolucencies at the solear margin of the distal phalanx in radiographs of healthy and laminitic hooves. Methods: Clinical records and dorsoproximal-palmarodistal radiographs of equine forelimbs with radiological diagnoses of either laminitis (n = 40, L) or navicular syndrome (n = 40, NS). Methods: Outlines of the radiolucent structures at the solar margin were drawn in ImageJ, and a customized novel plugin "Arteries Analyzer/ImageJ" was used for measurements. The diverging radiolucencies outside the terminal arc of the distal phalanx were differentiated as arterial ch...
Henderson ARP, Valverde A, Marchiori J, Tisotti T, Torrent A, Côté N, Gomez DE.To determine the effects of rapid (1 minute) and slow (10 minutes) intravenous (IV) injection of sodium penicillin on arterial blood pressure in anesthetized horses. Methods: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Methods: A group of 29 client-owned horses of various breeds, 1-20 years old, with body masses of 360-710 kg. Methods: General anesthesia was induced with a variety of anesthetic protocols and maintained with isoflurane under mechanical ventilation, with hourly doses of IV lidocaine and an infusion of dexmedetomidine. Horses were administered IV intraoperative penicillin every 2 hour...
Noschka E, Moore JN, Peroni JF, Lewis SJ, Morrow JD, Robertson TP.Inflammation and vascular dysfunction occur concurrently during the prodromal stages of equine laminitis. The aim of this study was to provide insights into the role that thromboxane and isoprostanes may play in the development of black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE)-induced laminitis. Horses were divided into two groups, either control or BWHE-administered horses. Plasma concentrations of thromboxane increased transiently after administration of BWHE and coincided with the nadir in white blood cell counts, whereas plasma concentrations of iso-prostaglandin PGF(2alpha) (iso-PGF(2alpha)) did n...
Sanders EA, Gleed RD, Hackett RP, Dobson A.In the quietly standing horse I.V. administration of adrenaline decreased, and of dobutamine increased, bronchial artery flow. These changes paralleled changes in arterial pressure. With phenylephrine and noradrenaline bronchial artery flow decreased while arterial pressure increased, indicating active vasoconstriction in the bronchial circulation. With clenbuterol an increase in bronchial artery flow was accompanied by a decrease in systemic blood pressure, indicating bronchial arterial vasodilatation. We conclude that alpha-constrictor and beta 2-dilator receptors are present in the bronchia...
Mayr A, Thein P.At the moment, horse praxis is confronted by two disease complexes which are difficult to fight against as well in prophylaxis as in therapy, but which get an increasing importance. First they concern virus infections of the foals and second primary virus-caused respiratory diseases. Foals get infected during the embryonal/fetal development, in the perinatal or postnatal period. Normally the infection is caused by latent infected, clinical healthy mares, or in the postnatal period by ubiquitous, normally opportunistic socalled problem-viruses, i.e. equine herpes-viruses 1 and 2, rota-, corona-...
Tithof PK, Rebhun WC, Dietze AE.A linear array 5 mHz ultrasonic scanner was used to diagnose aorto-iliac thrombosis in a 3 year old Standardbred gelding. There are no reports in the literature of utilization of ultrasonography for visualization of an aortic thrombus. The technique is fairly non-invasive, requiring only a rectal examination with a linear array probe. Arteriography is the only other method described for actual visualization of a thrombus. This procedure is technically difficult and highly invasive.
Bergentz SE.Jean Martin Charcot was the first to give a detailed description of intermittent claudication, and a correct interpretation of the mechanism behind the symptoms. He borrowed the name of the syndrome from the veterinarian literature, where it had been described to occur in horses, and caused by inflammatory changes in aorta at the origin of the large vessels to the extremities. The case presented by Charcot was a man with a traumatic pseudoaneurysm in his common iliac artery. He had in addition an arterio-enteric fistula, a condition which probably had not been described before.
Mitten LA, Hinchcliff KW, Sams R.Evaluation of a portable blood gas analyzer, (StatPal II, Unifet, Inc, La Jolla, CA) was performed using tonometered solutions and equine blood. Samples were analyzed by the StatPal II and either an Instrument Laboratory IL1306 (Lexington, MA) or a Radiometer ABL50 blood gas analyzer (Radiometer America Inc., Westlake, OH). Comparison of the StatPal II and the IL1306 was done by analysis of 3 tonometered solutions (acidic, normal, and alkalotic) and 27 equine venous blood samples. Blood pH, PCO2, PO2, and [HCO3] values were altered by IV infusion of 5% sodium bicarbonate or exercising the hors...
Kotzé SH.The arteries supplying the ileocaecal junctions of 7 horses were injected with latex via the A. ileocolica and dissected macroscopically. The same basic pattern emerged whereby a single papillary artery arising from the R. ilei mesenterialis, supplied all aspects of the ileocaecal papilla. In one instance, the papillary artery arose directly from the ileocolic artery. No collateral arterial supply to the ileocaecal junction was present in any of the specimens dissected.
Kenney DW, Elsner RW, Franklin DL.Bood flow was measured in the external iliac artery of the
horse during standing and walking. The Franklin Doppler
blood flow-telemetry system was used in this study. The transducer was placed on the external iliac artery using a retroperitoneal approach through the vaginal wall.
Marais J.The vascular architecture of the dermal laminae was studied by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts. Ultrastructurally, the laminar vasculature consisted of arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins, arranged in a sheet-like network. Through the laminae, arterioles ran parallel to the solar surface and branched at two levels to form a continuous arteriolar arcade, parallel to the hoof wall. Capillaries originating from these arcades formed hairpin loops joining the marginal vein prior to forming an axially situated venous network. Additional capillaries were also given off...