Age-related anatomical features of the femur of the sable of the Black Pushkin breed in conditions of limited mobility

Abstract

Knowledge  of  the  structural  features  of the  pelvic  limb  skeleton  is  necessary  for  a veterinary  specialist  performing  surgical interventions on this area of the body. It is the structure of the pelvic limbs that gives the  relative  springiness  to  the  body  of  the sable  with  a  jumpy  run  and  the  speed  of movements  and  reactions  to  surrounding actions.  In  connection  with  the  above,  the relevance of this study is beyond doubt. The study  was  conducted  at  the  Department  of Animal Anatomy of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine. The objects for this study were the corpses of the black  Pushkin  sable  breed  of  two  age groups:  15-20  months  from  birth (physiological  maturity)  and  36-40  months from birth (puberty). To achieve this task, a complex  of  traditional  anatomical  research methods  was  used:  fine  anatomical  dissection,  maceration,  photographing  and  morphometry.  The  age-related  anatomical  features of the skeleton and morphometric data of the femur of the sable of the Black Pushkin breed in conditions of limited  mobility were  established.  Sables,  living  in  natural conditions, receive significant physical exertion  on  the  pelvic  limb.  This  explains  the decrease in the diameter of the femoral neck in animals with limited dynamics with age. Keeping these animals in the conditions of fur farms significantly reduces the level of locomotion,  which  certainly affects  the  development of bones and their structures. The patella  block  as  an  adaptive  structure  receives  significant  additional  lateroal  and proximal  development,  manifested  in  the form  of  ridges  extending  beyond  the  compact substance of the knee block. This structure of the block contributes to the maximum extension of the knee joint with the contraction of the quadriceps femoral muscle.