Arterial vascularization of the thymus in the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus)

Abstract

Vascularization,  the number of thymic lobes were researched  in 30 samples of domestic fowl (Gallus galllus). Were prepared by injection technique of arterial vessels with aqueous solution of latex to 50%, colored, and subsequent fixation in 10% aqueous solution of formaldehyde. After dissection, were observed cervical thymic lobes, in both sides, willing dorsolateral to the vasculo-nervous beam. It’s irrigation was performed by common artery branches of the vagus nerve left and right, ascending cervical cutaneous right and left, right and left cranial thyroid, ascending esophageal right and left, right and left vertebral, left ascending vertebral, right and left common carotid and cutaneous branches right and left. The co-lateral from these arteries varied from 16 to 30 for both antimeres. In the right side, issued from 6 to 18 branches and in opposite side, 5 to 15 branches. The number of thymic lobes ranged from 9 to 15, distributed as follows: the right side had 5 to 8 lobes, whereas  the left had 4 to 7. There was diversification of the entry points of the branches in the thymic parenchyma, from the cranial extremity, middle third and caudal extremity.