The anatomy of the cervicothoracic arterial system in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with a surgical approach suitable for guided angiography

摘要

AbstractAnatomical dissections on the cervicothoracic arterial system of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) have been carried out as a necessary stage preceding certain physiological investigations in this animal. It is essential to have access to large blood vessels in these investigations, and the lack of superficial blood vessels suitable for catheterization in this species has required that a surgical approach to deeper vessels be developed. We have described a surgical technique for exposure of the A. carotis externa and V. jugularis externa and have used this method to introduce angio‐catheters into both of these vessels. By these means we have been able to carry out hemodynamic, blood chemistry, and angiographic studies with successful recovery of the animals. These investigations, anatomical dissections on normal animals, and studies of vinylite vascular casts have delineated many specialized features of the cervicothoracic vascular systems in the dolphi