The Radiographic Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal Tract of the Lesser Mousedeer (Tragulus javanicus)

The radiographic anatomy of the Lesser Mousedeer (Tragulus javanicus) is described. The mousedeer has an extremely large stomach complex which fills the left and the ventral right of the abdomen. No omasum or caudodorsal blind sac were found. The reticulum usually lay cranioventrally on the left side abutting the diaphragm. The abomasal fundus lay caudal and ventral to the reticulum. The rate of passage of radiopaque substances along the alimentary tract is given. Faeces was first noted to form in the spiral colon. Small particles and fluid passed rapidly through the alimentary tract Ix =44.5 hr). Particles with densities approaching that of straw remained in the rumen whilst heavy metals were retained in the reticulum

Topographic Anatomy of the Abdomen of the Lesser Mousedeer (Tragulus javanicus)

A description is given of the gross anatomy supplemented by radiographic studies of the abdominal structures of (T. javanicus). The large sacculated stomach complex is the dominant feature of the abdomen, it occupies most of the left side and extends across to fill the ventral right side. The intestine is primarily relegated to the dorsal caudal quadrant immediately cranial to the cranial pelvic aperture. The multilobed liver lies entirely on the right. The kidneys are not lobed, with the cranial pole of the right kidney abutting the caudate lobe of the liver and the left kidney lying adjacent but immediately caudal to its fellow. The small triangular spleen lies on the dorsal cranial aspect of the dorsal sac of the rumen