Zyuzin D. V., Frenkel Y. D., Cherno V. S., Pshychenko V. V., Bereza I. V.

TOPOGRAPHOANATOMIC FEATURES OF THE POSTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA OF THE BASE OF THE DOG SKULL

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About the author:

Zyuzin D. V., Frenkel Y. D., Cherno V. S., Pshychenko V. V., Bereza I. V.

Heading:

MORPHOLOGY

Type of article:

Scientific article

Annotation:

The variability of skulls in shape and size among domestic dogs is observed more than in any other species of mammals. This pattern is associated with intensive artificial selection of the phenotype of the skull of domestic dogs, which has gained special development over the past two centuries. Therefore, craniometry and craniotopography in dogs acquire special importance when characterizing the anatomical indicators of specific representatives of the breed. In veterinary medicine, which has gained intensive development in the last 20–30 years, the latter phenomenon significantly complicates diagnostics and surgical interventions. The aim of the study was to establish the topographic-anatomical features and morphometric indicators of the bone foramina, canals and their connections of the posterior cranial fossa of the base of the dog’s skull. The skulls of dogs that were studied are part of the museum fund of the Department of Surgical Surgery and Topographic Anatomy. The skulls of dogs were divided into four groups according to the sagittal length between the cranial points. The first group included skulls up to 13 cm long (animals weighing up to 10 kg), the second group included skulls 13–16 cm long (animals weighing 10 to 15 kg), the third group included skulls 16–19 cm long (animals weighing 15–20 kg), and the fourth group included skulls 19–24 cm long (animals weighing 20–30 kg). Craniometry of the posterior cranial fossa of the skull base was performed using specific points. Morphometric indicators were obtained by calculating the area of the posterior cranial fossa, measuring the distance between the same-named holes on the inner and outer base of the skull, the diameters of the holes on the outer and inner base, and measuring the length of the bone canal of the ventral stony sinus and the jugular vein. Statistical processing of the obtained morphometric indicators was carried out using software with the determination of the arithmetic mean (M), the standard deviation (σ) and the average error of the arithmetic mean (m). The obtained results of the morphometric indicators of the external base of the skull indicate a direct dependence of linear dimensions on the body weight of animals. It is natural that the linear indicators of the rostral section prevail over the base of the cerebral skull. In group 1, the length of the rostral section was 57.97% of the total average length. In group 2, it was 54.46%, in group 3 – 55.77%, and in group 4 it was 54.74%. The linear indicators of the length of the cranial fossa also have different indicators. In our study, we paid special attention to determining the width and area of the posterior cranial fossa on the inner base of the skull at specific points corresponding to the openings of the canal into which the right and left internal jugular veins enter from the cranial cavity. We established the width indicators and calculated the area indicators of the posterior cranial fossa in the indicated groups of animals. The last stage of our morphometric study was to establish the indicators of bone structures in connection with the formation of the groove in which the initial section of the ventral stony sinus lies and its subsequent transition to the bone canal, in which it merges with the internal jugular vein. For this measurement, we used the topographic points of the beginning of the groove to the entrance to the bone canal of the ventral stony sinus and the length of the canal itself to the jugular opening. According to the numerical results of the measurements, the angle of the axis of the furrow and the canal of the ventral petrosal sinus was almost the same – from 28° to 32° in all groups of animals. Thus, for the first time, we obtained comprehensive morphometric data of the posterior cranial fossa of the skull and the bone structures of the ventral petrosal sinus of dogs of different weights.

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Bibliography:

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Publication of the article:

«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine», 2026 Issue 2, 181, 247-253 pages, index UDC 591.471.4:599.744.1

DOI:

10.29254/2077-4214-2026-2-181-247-253