Volume 12
Issue 4
Veterinary Medicine
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume12/issue4/abs-12.html
THE AORTIC VALVE AND OTHER HEART STRUCTURES OF SELECTED SPECIES OF SEA BIRDS IN A MORPHOLOGICAL AND IMAGING SCOPE
Bartłomiej J. Bartyzel
Department of Morphological Sciences,
Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland
ABSTRACT
Ninety-three hearts of birds
belonging to five species representing the Anseriformes were used in the study.
Morphological and imaging examination was conducted on the material using an X-ray apparatus (RTG). In most species each free margin of the cusp of the aortic valve had the nodules of the semilunar cusp. It can be assumed
that the structures mentioned above are the evidence of a specific adaptation
of birds to their lifestyle – diving. A lot of terms to describe the aortic valve
and its adjacent structures were suggested. Morphological and X-ray research
will contribute to a better understanding of the functioning of the aortic valve
of sea birds able to dive very well. The study will also let us relate basic
ecological examination with clinical sciences.
Key words: birds, heart, aortic valve, morphology, RTG.
Bartłomiej J. Bartyzel
Department of Morphological Sciences,
Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland
Nowoursynowska 159, 02–776 Warsaw, Poland
Fax: +48 22 59-362-18
email: bartlomiej_bartyzel@sggw.pl
Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.