Gross Anatomical Studies on The Nasal Cavity of The Ostrich

Abstract

A B S T R A C TThe aim of the present study is to analyse the anatomical structure of the nasal cavity of ostrich (Struthio camelus). Twelve heads of adult ostriches of both sex were used. The anatomical description were one by using of normal anatomical dissection of the samples and making several transverse and sagittal sections through the nasal cavity. In addition computed tomography (CT) images were taken to whole head for more investigation and correlate the results of CT scan with that of anatomical sections. The obtained results showed that the nostrils of ostrich are unique as they had nither operculum at entance nor fearhers. The nasal conchae were observed with will developed middle one which also showed more complex scroll in CT images. Nasal gland and infraorbital sinus; related to the nasal cavity also descriped in this study. The obtained result discussed with previous literatures to gave a reliable explanation to the anatomical structure which help to understand disease and possible treatments of the upper respiratory tract in ostrich.

Anatomical Descriptions Of The Nasal Cavity Of The Aquatic And Non-Aquatic Birds

“…In the current study, the rostral conchae was shelf-like in duck, T-shape in goose projecting from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity were in agreement with Ali (2015) in ostrich and King and McLelland (1984) in domestic fowl. In addition, it was appeared as C shape enclosed vertical lamella of nostril in quail, which was similar to the reports of Cevik-Demirkan et al (2007) in quail and Hassan (2012) in hooded crow.…”

“…On the contrary, with reference to the previously studied birds the nasal septum was absent in new world vulture (Allaby, 1991). In regards to the nasal conchae, there were three nasal conchae; rostral, middle, caudal in duck, goose, quail which were similar to the observations in ostrich (Jin et al, 2008, Ali, 2015, in quail (Fitzgerald,1969, Cevik-Demirkan et al, 2007 and the domestic chicken (Bang and Wenzel, 1985). The present findings in dove as only two conchae viz.…”

“…Moreover, tube-nosed birds (order Procellariformes) have nostrils enclosed in double tubes located along the sides of the upper jaw or fused at the top of the beak (Chester,2010). Corresponding to the shape, the nostrils were oval without operculum in goose as mentioned in turkey by Sayed et al (2014) and in ostrich by Ali (2015), elliptical without operculum in duck and elongated slit-like reduced in size due to the horny operculum in dove and quail. However, the nostrils of hooded crow were circular in shape and were covered by a tuft of feathers (Hassan, 2012), which warms the inhaled air (Gellhorn, 2007).…”

“…The results of the nonaquatic birds agreed with reports in chicken and pigeon (Casteleyn et al, 2018) while of the aquatic birds with reports by Altman et al (1960) but in contrast with earlier reports in duck by Kang et al (2014) where the septum was cartilaginous. In addition, the nasal septum was membrano-cartilaginous (rostrally) and bony (caudally) in ostrich (Ali, 2015). Our study added that the nasal septum was perforated by an elongated elliptical opening to allow the passage of water outside the nasal cavity during diving.…”

“…Analogous to the descriptions reported for of the other species, the middle concha had the ideal scroll-like form which completed one and one-half turns in duck, 2 turns in goose and one-half turn in quail. The middle concha scroll takes two turns in domestic birds (Bittner,1925), one-half in quail (Cevik-Demirkan et al, 2007), coiled bulla-like in ostrich (Ali, 2015) and as whelk shell in duck (Kang et al, 2014). Corresponding to the caudal concha was bulla shaped in all examined birds except dove which was hollow pear-shaped with ventral narrow and dorsal wide part.…”