Pododermal angioarchitecture of the bovine claw in relation to form and function of the papillary body: a scanning electron microscopic study. |
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Authors: | R M Hirschberg C K Mülling K D Budras |
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Affiliation: | Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Freie Universität Berlin, D-14195 Berlin, Germany |
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Abstract: | The region-specific angioarchitecture of the bovine pododerma was examined using systematic scanning electron microscopy of micro-corrosion casts of juvenile and adult bovine claws. Particular emphasis was laid on the demonstration of specialised vascular structures such as arteriovenous anastomoses. Comparing the results of main and dew claws, respectively, of juvenile and adult claws, a relation between burdening of the claw and density and differentiation of the pododermal papillary and lamellar blood vessels was detected. The results suggest a possible influence of body weight (or age) and weight-bearing on the formation and vascularisation of the pododermal papillary body. The lamellar and papillary microvascularisation and microcirculation are discussed. |
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Keywords: | blood vessels microcirculation weight-bearing arteriovenous anastomoses bovine claw pododerma dermis dermal papillae dermal lamellae |
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