Histologische und funktionelle Beobachtungen am Zwerchfell von Damhirschen (Dama dama) aus dem Naturpark Brionische Inseln (Kroatien)

• Published in: European journal of wildlife research Vol. 49; no. 2; p. 141
• Main Authors: Kantura, Vesna Gjurcevic, Kolic, E, Zobunija, M, Mihelic, D, Slavica, A, Vinkovic, Bara, Petrinec, Z, Janicki, Z, Majurdic, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01-06-2003
• Subjects: Deer; Histology; Horses; National parks; Respiratory system; Zoology
• ISSN: 1612-4642; 1439-0574
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02190454

Samples of the pars costalis and both crura of the lumbar part of the diaphragm of 1-5 years old fallow deer (Dama dama) of both sexes from the national park Brijuni (Croatia) were studied histologically. On photographs the diameter of 4,138 muscle fibers was measured and the fibers were classified on the basis of their diameters. The costal part and both crura comprised muscle fibers of different diameters, ranging from 10-60 Μm (costal part), 10-65 Μm (left crus) and 10-70 Μm (right crus). All three phrenic parts contained relatively few fibers with small diameter of up to 20 Μm (11-15%), slightly more fibers with diameters over 40Μm (15-23%), and mostly medium-sized fibers with diameters between 21-40 Μm (63-72%). Our findings suggest that contrary to horses, cattle, sheep and pigs, in which steady or laboured breathing engages either costal or lumbar part of diaphragm, in fallow deer these types of breathing and non-respiration engage both diaphragmatic parts simultaneously.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]