An anatomical study of the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae and middle nasal conchae in normal Shetland ponies: Computed tomographic anatomical and morphometric findings.
Abstract: Equine paranasal sinuses are susceptible to inflammation. Insufficient drainage through the nasal passages and meatus may lead to the accumulation of inspissated purulent discharge. Particularly in ponies, these anatomical structures are suspected to be relatively small. To date, there are no reports considering the morphology of nasal conchal bullae in small horse breeds such as Shetland ponies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the size of the conchal bullae and the medial nasal conchae of Shetland ponies and their relation to the skull dimension using computed tomography. Reconstructed images of healthy adult heads of Shetland ponies were used. Linear skull measurements as well as two cranial indices of the head dimensions were taken. Length, width and height of the dorsal and ventral conchal bullae and the medial nasal conchae were measured in relation to the skull and compared with the data of skulls of large breed horses. The anatomical proportions of pony heads were characterized by a smaller cranial index and a greater nasal index than those of large breed horses. Shetland ponies showed a longer cranial length compared with the nasal length. Heads are consistently smaller, and the relationship of the bullae to the head length was also smaller than those measured in large breed horses. A negative correlation between the head and bullae size was found. In conclusion, this study suggests that Shetland ponies have distinguishing proportions of the head. These findings are relevant for clinical examination and surgical treatment of equine sinus disease in those breeds.
© 2020 The Authors. Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Publication Date: 2020-12-16 PubMed ID: 33331012DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12646Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article is about a study done to understand the anatomy and size of the nasal conchal bullae and middle nasal conchae in normal Shetland ponies, focusing on how it relates to the skull dimensions and comparing it with larger horse breeds, using computed tomography.
Objective of the Study
- The research aims to explore the size and anatomy of the nasal conchal bullae and the middle nasal conchae in Shetland ponies and determining their relation to the skull size using computed tomography.
- It also seeks to compare these findings with those from larger horse breeds.
Methodology
- Reconstructed images of healthy adult heads of Shetland ponies were used for this study.
- Linear skull measurements were taken, along with two cranial indices of the head dimensions.
- The length, width, and height of the dorsal and ventral conchal bullae and the middle nasal conchae were measured relation to the skull size.
Findings and Comparison
- Results indicated that Shetland ponies’ anatomical proportions, including the head size and the relationship of the bullae to the head length, were smaller when compared to large breed horses.
- Shetland pony heads exhibited a smaller cranial index but a larger nasal index than those of large breed horses, and their cranial length was longer in comparison with the nasal length.
- There was found to be a negative correlation between the size of Shetland ponies’ head and bullae.
Implication of the Study
- The research findings imply that Shetland ponies have distinctive head proportions. This discovery is essential for clinical examination and surgical treatment of sinus disease in such breeds.
Cite This Article
APA
Gerlach K, Vervuert I, Gittel C, Köhler L, Schmidt N, Winter K, Berner D, Troillet A, Schulz-Kornas E.
(2020).
An anatomical study of the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae and middle nasal conchae in normal Shetland ponies: Computed tomographic anatomical and morphometric findings.
Anat Histol Embryol, 50(3), 431-438.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12646 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics (IAND), Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute of Anatomy, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Royal Veterinary College, Equine Referral Hospital, University of London, London, UK.
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Max Planck Weizmann Center for Integrative Archaeology and Anthropology (MPWC), Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Cardiology, Endodontology and Periodontology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blister / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses
- Nasal Cavity / diagnostic imaging
- Paranasal Sinuses / diagnostic imaging
- Turbinates / diagnostic imaging
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This article includes 17 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Matos JI, Pitti L, Parra-Quijano M, Arencibia A, Ramírez G, Díaz-Bertrana ML. Integrative anatomical and two-dimensional ultrasonographic assessment of the heart in Shetland ponies. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1721000.
- Mendes RP, Lima AE, da Cunha R, Bittar MJ, Vasconcelos CC, Piñeros DDV, Corrêa RR. Complementary Radiographic Projection for Evaluation of the Conchal Sinuses and Bullae in Horses. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2025 May;66(3):e70046.
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