Scanning electron microscopic study on the vascular supply of the dove adrenal gland

摘要

The vascular supply of the dove adrenal gland was examined by scanning electron microscopy. There were three vascular structures in the dove adrenal gland; arteries, veins and the adrenal portal vein. The left adrenal artery was a branch of the descending aorta and the right adrenal artery was a branch of the anterior mesenteric artery. The capillaries in the adrenal gland coursed in a central direction into the gland to connect with the adrenal veins. The right adrenal veins drained into the caudal vena cava, and the left adrenal veins drained into the common illiac vein or caudal vena cava. The adrenal portal vein had a connection with veins from the internal vertebral sinus and with veins from the flank muscles. The adrenal portal vein fanned out to enclose the adrenal gland. From the surface of the gland, it coursed into the parenchyma and branched to form a dense capillary plexus. The structure of the adrenal portal vein suggests that it may act as a functional blood system, like the hepaticportal vein, and may play an important role in the hypophysio-adrenal control system.