Anatomical and Morphometric Study of Lacrimal Apparatus in Adult Male Indigenous Gazelle (Gazelle subgutturosa)

Abstract

This study was done to investigate the anatomical location, morphological and morphometric appearance of lacrimal apparatus in adult male of Indigenous Gazelle (Gazelle subgutturosa) which includes dorsal and ventral lacrimal puncta, paired canaliculi, lacrimal sac and the nasolacrimal duct. Eight healthy adult male of indigenous gazelle were used in the current study after collecting them from nature preserve, to investigate and describe the anatomical features, morphometeric and location of the lacrimal apparatus in these species. The mean live weight was about (18 kg) in healthy animals. After slaughtering gazelle one after another, the apparatus was identified (shape, position, dimensions and general description of each left and right apparatus). Duct system Corrosion cast technique was done to detect, the course and the internal shape of the nasolacrimal duct after injection of tap water and air by using 8 pair of specimens, then photographs was taken and measurements was recorded in all animals by using digital Verna, measurement tape and ruler.Due to lack of researches on gazelle’s lacrimalapparatus which play an important rolewith lacrimal gland in eye health in this animal and subsequently in general health. In conclusion, the lacrimal glands in the gazelle are similar to many species in some morphometerical and morphological characters and differ with many animals in the same characters and this difference may be due to the differences in genus, species and age of the animals. There are no significant differences between left and right gland in the same animal. Anatomically there is no different in the location of lacrimal gland of gazelle from all other animals because this location provides full protection for this gland.