Cranial arterial patterns of the alpaca (Camelidae: Vicugna pacos)

Haley D. O’Brien

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Artiodactyl cranial arterial patterns deviate significantly from the standard mammalian pattern, most notably in the possession of a structure called the carotid rete (CR)- a subdural arterial meshwork that is housed within the cavernous venous sinus, replacing the internal carotid artery (ICA). This relationship between the CR and the cavernous sinus facilitates a suite of unique physiologies, including selective brain cooling. The CR has been studied in a number of artiodactyls; however, to my knowledge, only a single study to date documents a subset of the cranial arteries of New World camelids (llamas, alpacas, vicugñas and guanacoes). This study is the first complete description of the cranial arteries of a New World camelid species, the alpaca (Vicugna pacos), and the first description of near-parturition cranial arterial morphology within NewWorld camelids. This study finds that the carotid arterial system is conserved between developmental stages in the alpaca, and differs significantly from the pattern emphasized in other long-necked ruminant artiodactyls in that a patent, homologous ICA persists through the animal’s life.

Original languageEnglish
Article number160967
JournalRoyal Society Open Science
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Mar 2017

Keywords

  • Artiodactyla
  • Carotid rete
  • Rete mirabile caroticum
  • Vasculature

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cranial arterial patterns of the alpaca (Camelidae: Vicugna pacos)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this