TWO‐DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE SNAKE HEART (PYTHON MOLURUS BIVITTATUS)

Abstract

Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed on Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to determine an optimal echocardiographic imaging technique for snakes and to describe the echocardiographic anatomy of the snake heart. Five snakes immobilized with tiletamine/zolazepam and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen were imaged in dorsal recumbency. The portion of the snake's body containing the heart was submerged in warm water to reduce the artifact created by air trapped between and under the scales. Imaging in sagittal planes demonstrated the caudal vena cava, sinus venous valve, right atrium, various portions of the ventricle, horizontal septum, the left aortic arch, and pulmonary artery. Transverse imaging depicted the spatial relationship of the left and right aortic arches and pulmonary artery and the horizontal septum. Basic knowledge of cardiac blood flow in the reptile was necessary to understand the echocardiographic anatomy.

Functional morphology and patterns of blood flow in the heart of Python regius

“…A transversal imaging plane at the level of the interventricular canal, and a horizontal longitudinal imaging plane that embraces the atria, the cavum arteriosum, the cavum venosum and the atrio-ventricular valves are suitable to describe the functioning of the heart. The ultrasonography planes described here differ from those of Snyder et al (1999) because of a different purpose of the study. I have focused on defining echocardiographic imaging planes that allow analysis of the functioning of the heart and patterns of blood flow.…”

“…I have focused on defining echocardiographic imaging planes that allow analysis of the functioning of the heart and patterns of blood flow. Snyder et al (1999) aimed at introducing imaging routines relevant for diagnostic echocardiography in snakes. While, in principle, the descriptive ultrasonography presented here confirms the results of Snyder et al (1999), I have chosen a terminology that conforms to comparative anatomy and allows comparison to other squamates.…”

“…Snyder et al (1999) aimed at introducing imaging routines relevant for diagnostic echocardiography in snakes. While, in principle, the descriptive ultrasonography presented here confirms the results of Snyder et al (1999), I have chosen a terminology that conforms to comparative anatomy and allows comparison to other squamates. Sklansky et al (2001) reported on an echocardiographic study on carpet python supporting the diagnostic potential of the method, but, because of their enigmatic aims, without contributing much information that could be used for comparisons.…”

“…Continuous-wave Doppler-ultrasonography allows color-coded visualization of the direction of the blood flow in vessels, and pulsedwave Doppler-ultrasonography quantifies blood flow velocity. Data on vessel diameter, blood flow direction, and blood flow velocity can be used to calculate the blood flow volume in a vessel (Snyder et al, 1999;Young and Saunders, 1999;Sklansky et al, 2001;Starck et al, 2001;Starck and Wimmer, 2005).…”

Ultra-sonografia do fígado, aparelho renal e reprodutivo da jibóia (Boa constrictor)

“…O uso de gel de acoplamento acústico mostrou-se satisfatório, proporcionando acoplamento acústico adequado e minimizando a presença de artefatos de técnica durante a avaliação. Os exames ultra-sonográficos avaliados em tartarugas por Penninck et al (1991) e em cobras por Snyder et al (1999) descreveram achados referentes a imagem de grandes vasos nesses animais. Corroborando com as descrições desses autores, neste estudo foi possível uma varredura e identificação topográfica precisa das veias cava caudal e porta hepática.…”