Vol. 44, No. 2, 2000
THE MORPHOMETRY OF THE FORAMEN MAGNUM IN RABBITS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH CRANIOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS
Department of Anatomy
Veterinary Faculty
University of Istanbul
34854 Avcılar
Istanbul
Turkey
Summary
The skulls of 90 rabbits, with ages ranging from 1 to 40 days were used in the study. The skulls belonged to rabbits which had no neurological problems and which were living normally. The animals were divided into 9 groups according to their ages: 1-, 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-, and 40-day-old rabbits each formed a group. In each group of rabbits 10 skulls were used.
In each of the animals studied, the transversely oval foramen magnum was observed. It was determined that there existed a dorsal notch on the foramen magnum and that this section was covered with a membrane. Compared to its height, the width of the notch significantly increased as the experiments progressed. It was thus discovered that the foramen magnum index reached its maximum level on the 10th day. Afterwards, it showed variations with age. Meanwhile, there was a decrease in the skull and facial indices.
The statistically important correlations between the parameters of the foramen magnum and skull were observed on the 30th day. The parameters between the foramen magnum and body weight were significant in the period of the first ten days. It was found out that there was a negative correlation (p < 0.001) between the height of the dorsal notch and body weight in one-day old rabbits.
It was finally concluded that it was a morphological development in rabbits that the dorsal notch was covered with a membrane from birth and that it became larger with the development of the foramen magnum.
Key words: morphometry; correlation; foramen magnum; rabbit
References
Folia Veterinaria / 2000