The Vascularization of abdominal organs in porcupines (Hystrix cristata)

2. ABSTRACT This study has been planned to examine the vascularization of abdominal organs of porcupines in detail and to contribute some information to this subject. For this purpose, 9(4 male, 5 female) of adult porcupines were examined. Visceral branches of aorta abdominalis were revealed by applying angiographic methods with latex injection to the animals and thus vascularization of abdominal organs were examined. A. celiaca gives off a. phrenica caudalis after approximately 1 cm. from its origin. Celiac arter seperates two branches, a. lienalis and a. hepatica which is continuity of arter. Ramus pancreaticus which is the most important arter for pancrease vascularization originates from a. lienalis. R. gastrolienal and aa. gastricae breves are present. First branch of a. hepatica is a thin arter, a. gastrica dextra. The thickest branch of hepatic arter is a. gastrica sinistra which seperates two branches; ramus visceralis and ramus parietalis. A. cystica which is responsible from vesica fellea vascularization is originated from ramus dexter medialis. A. pancreaticoduodenalis caudalis seperates from a. mesenterica cranialis as third branch. A. colica dextra with given branches is anostomosed with a. colica media and ramus colicus. The vascularization of jejenum is made by a. jejunalis which originated from a. mesenterica cranialis and truncus jejunalis. A. mesenterica cranialis gives some side-branches and then continues as a. ileocolica and it ends by seperating rami colici and a. cecalis branches. A. renalises give origin to rami adrenales(-supra) caudales and ramus uretericus. Right gonadal arter and left gonadal arter are originated from lateral wall of aorta abdominalis and ventral wall of aorta abdominalis respectively.In conclusion, visceral branches of aorta abdominalis in porcupines were examined in detail. In addition origine, course and distribution of all branches were also examined. It was observed that some arters show similarity with some domestic animals and some rodents, but some arters show privileges belong to only porcupines. Visceral branches of aorta abdominalis and vascularization of abdominal organs in porcupines were firstly determined with the present study. The findings of the present study have contributed to some new informations to the knowledges on this subject. Key words: Porcupine, Hystrix cristata, aorta abdominalis, anatomy.