The cartilage of the third eyelid: a comparative macroscopical and histological study in domestic animals.
Abstract: The purpose of this comparative study was to evaluate morphological differences between the cartilages of the third eyelid in dogs, cats, pigs, cows, small ruminants and horses. For that reason a total of 83 third eyelids were investigated. By the aid of a modified maceration technique, the three-dimensional form of the cartilage could be demonstrated for the first time. Generally, the cartilage consists of a long narrow appendix which is followed by a variable crossbar. In dogs the appendix is cone shaped in the basal end and extends to form a triangular plate. The former is crescent-like in shape and has a marked bulge. The cartilage of the cat consists of an appendix which is enlarged in the proximal end as compared to the dog. The crossbar resembles a reverse s-form with ends tapering off to a point. In contrast pig and cow cartilage possess a typical anchorform whereas the cartilage of small ruminants starts with a thin rod which extends in a slightly curved form ending in an oval plate. The crossbar is crescent-like in these animals. In the horse the base of the cartilage is surrounded by a massive fatty tissue and the crossbar has a characteristic hook-form. Moreover, there are significant differences in regard to the quality of the cartilage, especially concerning the presence and distribution of elastic fibres. In cats and horses the elastic fibres of the adjacent connective tissue penetrate the perichondrium. Additionally, the centre of the cartilage shows a very dense network consisting of fine elastic fibres. In dogs, pigs, cows and small ruminants the cartilage consists of hyaline quality and only in the neighbouring connective tissue are some elastic fibres detectable.
Publication Date: 2001-04-28 PubMed ID: 11325064DOI: 10.1016/S0940-9602(01)80041-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper presents a comparative analysis of the morphological differences in the third eyelid cartilage among domestic mammals such as dogs, cats, pigs, cows, small ruminants, and horses.
Comparative Analysis of Cartilages
The researchers conducted a detailed examination of 83 third eyelids from different domestic animals by using a modified maceration technique to determine the 3-dimensional form of the cartilage. The findings include:
- In dogs, the third eyelid cartilage takes the form of a long narrow appendix that extends into a triangular plate and has a crescent-like bulge.
- For cats, their third eyelid cartilage is an enlarged appendix that differs from that of dogs. The crossbar of the cartilage resembles a reverse S-form with points tapering off to both ends.
- Contrarily, in pigs and cows, the cartilage exhibits a typical anchor-like shape.
- Small ruminants have a thin rod-shaped cartilage that extends into a slightly curved form, ending in an oval plate. This is also crescent-like for these animals.
- In horses, the cartilage is surrounded by a considerable amount of fatty tissue, and the crossbar has a unique hook-form.
Observation of Elastic Fibres
Apart from the 3D morphology, the study also revealed significant differences concerning the presence and distribution of elastic fibres in the cartilage of these animals.
- In cats and horses, the study found that the elastic fibres of the adjacent connective tissue penetrate the perichondrium. Furthermore, they observed a dense network of fine elastic fibres in the centre of the cartilage.
- On the contrary, in dogs, pigs, cows, and small ruminants, the cartilage was found out to be of hyaline quality, and only some elastic fibres were detectable in the adjacent connective tissue.
Through this comparative study, the researchers were able to underscore the unique morphological differences in the cartilage of the third eyelid across different species of domestic animals, thereby providing valuable insights for veterinary practice and further studies.
Cite This Article
APA
Schlegel T, Brehm H, Amselgruber WM.
(2001).
The cartilage of the third eyelid: a comparative macroscopical and histological study in domestic animals.
Ann Anat, 183(2), 165-169.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0940-9602(01)80041-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic / anatomy & histology
- Cartilage / anatomy & histology
- Cartilage / cytology
- Cats
- Cattle
- Dogs
- Elasticity
- Goats
- Horses
- Nictitating Membrane / anatomy & histology
- Nictitating Membrane / cytology
- Sheep
- Species Specificity
- Swine
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Klećkowska-Nawrot J, Goździewska-Harłajczuk K, Kupczyńska M, Kaleta-Kuratewicz K, Kuropka P, Barszcz K. Anatomical, Histological and Histochemical Observations of the Eyelids and Orbital Glands in the Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris Linnaeus, 1785) (Perissodactyla: Ceratomorpha). Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 23;13(13).
- Donohue LK, Mack ZE, Ledbetter EC. Surgical correction of third eyelid cartilage eversion in an Anglo-Nubian goat: A case report. Clin Case Rep 2022 Aug;10(8):e6208.
- Colman K, Andrews RN, Atkins H, Boulineau T, Bradley A, Braendli-Baiocco A, Capobianco R, Caudell D, Cline M, Doi T, Ernst R, van Esch E, Everitt J, Fant P, Grl MM, Mecklenburg L, Miller AD, Nikula KJ, Satake S, Schwartz J, Sharma A, Shimoi A, Sobry C, Taylor I, Vemireddi V, Vidal J, Wood C, Vahle JL. International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND): Non-proliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Non-human Primate (M. fascicularis). J Toxicol Pathol 2021;34(3 Suppl):1S-182S.
- Collin SP, Collin HB. The Ultrastructure of the Nictitating Membrane of the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor, Aves). Integr Org Biol 2020;2(1):obaa048.
- Klećkowska-Nawrot JE, Goździewska-Harłajczuk K, Barszcz K. Comparative study of the eyelids and orbital glands morphology in the okapi (Okapia johnstoni, Giraffidae), Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus, Cervidae) and the Philippine mouse-deer (Tragulus nigricans, Tragulidae). Histol Histopathol 2020 Feb;35(2):185-202.
- Yu X, Kawakami H, Tahara N, Olmer M, Hayashi S, Akiyama R, Bagchi A, Lotz M, Kawakami Y. Expression of Noggin and Gremlin1 and its implications in fine-tuning BMP activities in mouse cartilage tissues. J Orthop Res 2017 Aug;35(8):1671-1682.
- Freyer J, Labadie JD, Huff JT, Denyer M, Forman OP, Chodroff Foran R, Donner J. Association of FGF4L1 Retrogene Insertion with Prolapsed Gland of the Nictitans (Cherry Eye) in Dogs. Genes (Basel) 2024 Feb 1;15(2).
- Shakibapour E, Paryani M. Morphological and histological study of the third eyelid in hedgehogs. Vet Med Sci 2023 Sep;9(5):2078-2084.
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