Development of the navicular bone in foetal and young horses, including the arterial supply.
Abstract: A macroscopic, arteriographic and histological study of the development and the arterial anatomy of the navicular bone of 33 foetuses and 55 young horses is described. After 125 days of gestation the blood supply consists of two routes: one situated in the superficial layer of the fibrocartilage and the other similar to the blood supply of the navicular bone of the normal mature horse. After 270 days gestation, the blood vessels in the fibrocartilage gradually regressed and retracted until they have disappeared at six months after birth. At two months after birth the first macroscopic thinning of the fibrocartilage was noticed. From seven months to one year about 45 per cent of the navicular bones showed a slight thinning of the fibrocartilage. A positive correlation was found between radiographic abnormalities (ie enlargement of the nutrient foramina) and the frequency of thinning of the fibrocartilage. Radiographic abnormalities were first recognised 14 days after birth, whereas the arteriogram showed the first changes such as fewer or no arteries entering distally at the distal extremities at 10 weeks after birth. At four weeks after birth the first arterial wall changes were found, ie intimal thickening with or without splitting of the internal elastic membrane. From that age onward, the number of navicular bones with arterial wall changes gradually increased. Starting at five months after birth only 6 to 20 per cent of the arteries in the navicular bones without radiographic abnormalities showed arterial wall changes. However, the navicular bones with radiographic abnormalities showed arterial wall changes in 25 to 80 per cent of the arteries.
Publication Date: 1989-11-01 PubMed ID: 2591354DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb02185.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The article, entitled “Development of the navicular bone in foetal and young horses, including the arterial supply,” details a comprehensive study examining the growth and arterial anatomy of the navicular bone in 33 fetuses and 55 young horses.
Methodology
- The study utilizes a combination of macroscopic examination, arteriography (imaging of blood vessels), and histology (study of microscopic anatomy) to investigate this subject.
- The growth of the navicular bone and its blood supply is observed over crucial developmental stages, ranging from 125 days gestation to a year after birth.
Observations
- Two primary routes of blood supply are observed after 125 days of gestation: one in the superficial layer of fibrocartilage and the other resembling the blood supply found in a mature horse’s navicular bone.
- Post 270 days of gestation, the researchers notice the blood vessels in the fibrocartilage beginning to regress and retract. No trace of these vessels remain six months post-birth.
- Thinning of the fibrocartilage is first noticeably macroscopic at two months after birth.
- Between seven months to a year, approximately 45% of the navicular bones showed slight fibrocartilage thinning.
Correlation between Fibrocartilage Thinning and Radiographic Abnormalities
- A positive correlation is identified between radiographic abnormalities such as nutrient foramina enlargement and thinning of the fibrocartilage.
- Said abnormalities appeared first 14 days after birth, with arteriograms showing initial changes like fewer arteries or none at the distal extremities ten weeks post birth.
- At four weeks after birth, the study noted the first arterial wall changes like intimal thickening with or without an internal elastic membrane split.
Arterial Wall Changes
- From four weeks after birth, the number of navicular bones showing arterial wall changes gradually increased.
- From five months post birth, 6-20% of the arteries in navicular bones without radiographic abnormalities showcased arterial wall changes.
- However, those navicular bones with radiographic abnormalities demonstrated arterial changes in 25-80% of the arteries.
Cite This Article
APA
Rijkenhuizen AB, Németh F, Dik KJ, Goedegebuure SA.
(1989).
Development of the navicular bone in foetal and young horses, including the arterial supply.
Equine Vet J, 21(6), 405-412.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb02185.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Angiography / veterinary
- Animals
- Arteries
- Bone Development
- Cartilage, Articular / embryology
- Cartilage, Articular / growth & development
- Horses / embryology
- Horses / growth & development
- Sesamoid Bones / blood supply
- Sesamoid Bones / embryology
- Sesamoid Bones / growth & development
- Synovial Membrane / embryology
- Synovial Membrane / growth & development
- Veins
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- van der Zaag EJ, Weerts EA, van den Belt AJ, Back W. Clinicopathological findings in horses with a bi- or tripartite navicular bone. BMC Vet Res 2016 Apr 9;12:74.
- Giessen EJM, Stas EKL, Grinwis GCM, Veraa S. Imaging Findings of Congenital Distal Interphalangeal Joint Dysplasia in a 3-Month-Old Friesian Foal. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2025 Sep;66(5):e70076.
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