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Int J Anat Res 2018, 6(2.3):5390-98. ISSN 2321-4287 5390

Original Research Article

ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF BONES AND BONY CAVITIES OF THEOSTRICH SKULL (STRUTHIO CAMELUS)Attia A.A. Moselhy *1, Sherif Kh. A. Mohamed 2, Hanaa M. El-Ghazali 3.

ABSTRACT

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Attia A.A. Moselhy, Department of Anatomy and Embryology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Zagazig University, Egypt. Zagazig University, El-zeraa street. 114;44511-zagazig; Egypt Tel: 01147618235 Fax: 020552283683. E-Mail: [email protected]

Background: The morphology of ostrich skeleton was meager rather than fowl for which already a lot of literatureis available. This work attempts to present different views of skull bones of ostrich.

Materials and Methods: The present research was carried out on ten heads of adult ostriches. The obtainedheads were collected from different ostrich slaughtered houses at Alexandria. The preparations of bones wereperformed by maceration technique. Two head was radiographed at Surgery Department, Faculty of VeterinaryMedicine, Zagazig University.

Results: Ostrich skull consists of two parts; neurocranium and splanchnocranium which are separated by twolarge orbital cavities. Neurocranium is composed of single bones (occipital, sphenoid, ethmoidal) and paired(temporal, parietal and frontal) bones. The splanchnocranium consists of single bones (mandible, vomer andhyoid bones) and paired (quadrate, lacrimal, nasal bone, premaxilla, maxilla, Zygomatic (jugal), palatine boneand pterygoid) bones.

Conclusion: A significant result was obtained in this work that, there are variations in shape and components ofostrich skull bones in comparison with other birds. The similarity to small domestic birds was almost near toduck and geese rather than fowl and pigeon skulls. Also, there are some variations with large birds like an emu.

KEY WORDS: Morphology, Neurocranium, Splanchnocranium and Radiograph.

INTRODUCTION

International Journal of Anatomy and Research,Int J Anat Res 2018, Vol 6(2.3):5390-98. ISSN 2321-4287

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2018.213

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Quick Response code International Journal of Anatomy and ResearchISSN (E) 2321-4287 | ISSN (P) 2321-8967

https://www.ijmhr.org/ijar.htmDOI-Prefix: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar

DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2018.213

*1 Lecturer of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.2 Lecturer of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.3 Lecturer of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Received: 03 Apr 2018Peer Review: 05 Apr 2018Revised: 12 Apr 2018

Accepted: 08 May 2018Published (O): 05 Jun2018Published (P): 05 Jun 2018

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ICV for 201690.30

Article Information

Ostrich belongs to the family; Struthioidae,genus Struthio, species Camelus called (Struthiocamelus). It is of high economic value, as itsmeat is toothsome, loose and highly nutritive,and also it has pliable, permeable and highlydurable leather, so it is considered as the high-est grade leathers as well as high quality offeathers [1, 2].Recently, In Egypt, the pathological affections

in ostrich have been increased. Therefore, theanatomists focus their studies on the morphol-ogy of this bird and the anatomy of the ostrichhas become an important challenge for research-ers and practitioners. From this point of view,the demand of the osteological features of theappendicular and axial skeleton in ostrich hasbeen developed [3].The morphology of ostrich skeleton wasmeager rather than fowl for which already a lot


of literature is available. This work attempts topresent different views of the ostrich skullbones, which can be discussed to clear andincrease the availability of literature on otherdomestic birds. The present work highlighted onthe macro-anatomy of the ostrich skull and thestructural details of different bones. Ostrich isflightless bird has many anatomical characters.The current investigation may be helpful toveterinary anatomists and surgeons to planfuture researches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present research was carried out on tenheads of adult apparently healthy slaughteredostriches of both sexes (from two to three years).The obtained heads were collected from differ-ent ostrich slaughtered houses at Alexandria.Eight specimens were used to study the osteo-logical features of the ostrich skull. Immediatelyafter slaughter, soft tissues and brain wereremoved from the heads, then were put in a 5%potassium hydroxide solution for one day underobservation for maceration and remnants of thesoft tissue were cleaned. The bones wereimmersed in a solution of hydrogen peroxide 10%for thirty minutes. After this time, the bones wereexposed to running water and the parts weredried in the sun for two days this according to[4, 5]. The obtained skulls were photographedusing a Sony digital camera, 16.1 MP, 4x andimages were processed on the computer. Twoheads were radiographed dorsoventrally andlaterally to illustrate the different bony limita-tions of the ostrich skull in different views atSurgery Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medi-cine, Zagazig University. Mobile Fischer X-raymachine H.G. Fischer, inc. Franklin Park, Illinois,USA, with maximum output of 125 k.V and 100to 300 MA and POX –BT 300 (Toshiba rotanode).The denominations of the bony structuresfollowed the recommendations of [6].RESULTS

Ostrich skull is appeared pyramidal in shape withnarrow flat rostral apex and wide large roundedcaudal base. Most bones of the ostrich skull arepneumatic especially vomer, temporal, sphenoidand parietal bones. It composes of two compo-nents; neurocranium (the bones of the cranium)and splanchnocranium (the bones of the face) x

Ostrich skull is appeared pyramidal in shape withnarrow flat rostral apex and wide large roundedcaudal base. Most bones of the ostrich skull arepneumatic especially vomer, temporal, sphenoidand parietal bones. It composes of two compo-nents; neurocranium (the bones of the cranium)and splanchnocranium (the bones of the face)which are discrete by two orbital cavities.Neurocranium is composed of single bones(occipital, sphenoid, ethmoidal) and paired(temporal, parietal and frontal) bones.The splanchnocranium consists of single bones(mandible, vomer and hyoid bones) and paired(quadrate, lacrimal, nasal bone, premaxilla,maxilla, Zygomatic (jugal), palatine bone andpterygoid) bones (Figs 1,2,3,4).The occipital bone is situated basally and formedfrom three parts; base (basioccipitale), pairedlateral (exooccipitale) and squamous part(supraoccipital) which is surrounded a roundedForamen magnum. Just rostral to Foramenmagnum there is a hemispherical single occipi-tal condyle. The supraoccipital part representsthe caudal thick aspect of the cranial cavity whichseparated from the parietal bone, dorsally bynuchal crest and has a median external occipi-tal protuberance. The basal part is divided intotwo depressed fossae by raised area and isseparated from basisphenoid by a transverseridge. The paired lateral part is protruded, form-ing a broad like process (paraoccipital process)that demarcates the external acoustic meatus,caudally and is attached distally by a ligamentto the articular part of the mandible. Hypoglos-sal Foramen is situated medial to the latter broadprocess (Figs 3,4,5,6).The sphenoid bone is formed the major thickestpneumatic part of the floor of the cranium. It isdivided into caudal basisphenoid and rostralpresphenoid parts. Basisphenoid has a body andtwo temporal wings. Basisphenoid form the ros-tral boundary of external auditory meatus androstromedially, it has a foramen of the auditorytube. Presphenoid constitutes of a median body,two orbital wings and two rostolateral large barlike processes (parashenoid wings) (about 1.5cm in length). The latter process is articulatedwith pterygoid bone. Orbital wings connectedmedially with interorbital septum (Figs 3,4,6,7).The ethmoidal bone has horizontal and vertical

Attia A.A. Moselhy, Sherif Kh. A. Mohamed, Hanaa M. El-Ghazali. ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF BONES AND BONY CAVITIES OF THE OSTRICHSKULL (STRUTHIO CAMELUS).


Fig. 1: Dorsal view of ostrich skull showing: Os parietale(op), Os frontale (of), Proc. Frontalis (pff), Proc.Lacrimalis (pl), Os lacrimale (ola), Os nasale (ona),lateral nasal process (lnp), Os premaxillare (opr), Proc.Maxillaries (pma), Proc. Frontalis (pfp), Os maxillare(oma), Os jugale (oj), Proc. jugalis (pjm) and Proc.Quadratojugale (pqj).

Fig. 2: Radiographic image of ostrich head (lateral view)showing: Os parietale (op), Os frontale (of), Os lacrimale(ola), Os nasale (ona), Proc. Frontalis (pfp), Corpus ossispremaxillare (cop), Proc. Maxillaries (pma), Os jugale(oj), Foramen opticum (fop) Cavum cranii (cc), orbita (o)and Cavum nasi (cn).

Fig. 3: Ventral view of ostrich skull showing: Ospremaxillare (opr), Vomer (v), Os sphenoidale (osp), Osbasioccipitale (obo), Os maxillare (oma), Sinus fronta-lis (sf), Os pterygoideum (opt), Os quadratum (oq), Ossaotica (oot), Os exoccipitale (oex), Condylus occipitalis(co), Foramen tuba auditiva (fta), Os jugale (oj) and Ospalatinum (opa).

Fig. 4: Radiographic image of ostrich head (ventrodorsalview) showing: Os supraoccipitale (os), Foramenmagnum (fm), Condylus occipitalis (co), Os quadratum(oq), Proc. quadratojugale (pqj), Proc. jugalis jugale (pjj),Proc. jugalis (pjm), lateral nasal process (lnp), Proc.Palatinus (ppa), Proc. Maxillaries (pma), Corpus ossispremaxillare (cop), Os maxillare (oma), Pars horizontalisethmoidale (phe), Os palatinum (opa), Vomer (v), Sinusfrontalis (sf), Os pterygoideum (opt) and Os sphenoidale(osp).

Fig. 5: Caudal view of ostrich skull showing: Ossupraoccipitale (os), Foramen magnum (fm), Osexoccipitale (oex), Os basioccipitale (obo), Condylusoccipitalis (co), Proc. postorbitalis (ppo), Proc.zygomaticus (pz), Proc. mandibularis (pmq), Condylusmedialis (cme), Condylus lateralis (cla), Proc. oticus (pot)and Canales n. hypoglossi (cnh).

Fig. 6: Ventral view of ostrich skull (caudal aspect)showing: Foramen magnum (fm), basioccipitale (obo),Os basisphenoidale (obs), Ala parasphenoidalis (ap),Ala temporalis (at), Os supraoccipitale (os), Canales n.hypoglossi (cnh), Proc. zygomaticus (pz), Proc. oticus(pot), Condylus medialis (cme), Condylus lateralis (cla),Proc. quadraticus (pqt), Pars palatina (ppp), Ospterygoideum (opt), corpus ossis quadrati (coq), Ossaotica (oot) and Os exoccipitale (oex).



Fig. 7: Paramedian view of ostrich skull showing: Ossupraoccipitale (os), Os parietale (op), Os frontale (of),Sinus frontalis (sf), Pars horizontalis ethmoidale (phe),Proc. premaxillaris (ppm), Pars verticalis ethmoidale(pve), Foramen opticum (fop), Foramen n. Ophthalmici(fnop), Foramen maxillomandibularis (fxm), Condylusoccipitalis (co), Canales n. hypoglossi (cnh), Meatusacusticus internus (mai), Fossa cerebralis (fcl), Fossacerebellaris (fcll), Septum interorbitale (si), Septum nasiosseum (sno), Os basisphenoidale (obs) and Vomer (v).

Fig. 8: Lateral view of ostrich skull showing: Ospremaxillare (opr), Proc. Frontalis (pfp), Proc.Maxillaries (pma), lateral nasal process (lnp), Parsverticalis ethmoidale (pve), Os maxillare (oma), Proc.jugalis maxillare (pjm), Os pterygoideum (opt), Proc.jugalis jugale (pjj), Proc. orbitalis (por), Proc.quadratojugale (pqj), Os exoccipitale (oex), foramenmaxillomandibularis (fmm), Os parietale (op), Fossatemporalis (ft), Proc. postorbitalis (ppo), Foramen n.Ophthalmici (fnop), Os frontale (of), Foramen n.Cochlearis (fnc), Foramen orbitonasale (fon), Foramenopticum (fop), Septum nasi osseum (sno) and Orbita (o).

Fig. 9: Ventral view of ostrich skull (rostral aspect) show-ing: Os palatinum (opa), Pars horizontalis ethmoidale(phe), Corpus ossis premaxillare (cop), Proc. Maxillaries(pma), Proc. Palatinus (ppa), Proc. Frontalis (pfp), Proc.Premaxillaris (ppx), Proc. jugalis (pjm), Pars pterygoidea(ppt) and Sinus frontalis (sf).

Fig. 10: Dorsal view of ostrich skull with separatedpremaxilla showing: Proc. Frontalis (pff), Proc.Lacrimalis (pl), Os lacrimale (ola), lateral nasal process(lnp), Os premaxillare (opr), Proc. Maxillaries (pma),Proc. Frontalis (pfp), Proc. premaxillaris (ppm), Proc.Frontalis (pfn), Pars horizontalis ethmoidale (phe) andsupraorbital fissure (sfi).

Fig. 11: Dorsal view of ostrich mandible showing:Symphysis mandibulae (sma), Os dentale (ode), Osangulare (oan), Os supra-angulare (osa), Os articulare(oar), Crista intercotylaris (ci), Proc. mandibulae (pmm),Cotyla dorsalis (cd), Cotyla medialis (cm), Faciesmedialis (fme), Facies lateralis (fla), Foramin rostralismandibulae (frm) and Foramin caudalis mandibulae(fcm).


Fig. 12: Dorsal view of ostrich mandible (separated parts)showing: Symphysis mandibulae (sma), Os dentale (ode),dorsal and ventral delicate processes of angular bone(a), dorsal and ventral delicate processes of suprangularbone (s) and Os articulare (oar).


delicate bony plates. The horizontal part islocated beneath and supported the nasal bonesand the frontal process of premaxilla. The verti-cal one is separated between the orbital cavitycaudally and nasal cavity rostrally. The lattershared in the formation of interorbital septum.The area between the two components containsa foreman for passing the ophthalmic nerve(orbitonasal or ethmoidal foramen) (Figs 7,8,9).The parietal pneumatic bone is located nuchallyin between supraoccipital bone distally and fron-tal bone rostrally (parietofrontal suture). It par-ticipates in forming of the surface of the cranialcavity and is compressed laterally by temporalfossa giving an origin to muscle temporalis(Figs1,2,7,8).The frontal bone represents the major compo-nent of the surface of the cranium. It containsthree surfaces, two borders and three processes.The external surface of both sides is sloppedcranially and caudally and is raised centrally byfrontal elevation, the internal surface has a deepcerebral fossa and the orbital surface (wing)forms the caudomedial limit of the orbit havinga large optic foramen. The orbital surfaces ofboth sides are fused with each other, formingthe interorbital septum. The lateral borderrepresents the supraorbital margin while themedial borders are sutured with each other form-ing the interfrontal suture. The frontal bone ispossessed frontal, lacrimal and postorbitalprocesses. The frontal process is a transparentthin plate which roofed the frontal sinus andsutured with the frontal process of premaxilla.The supraorbital fissure is situated in betweenthe lacrimal process, laterally and the lacrimalbone medially for lodging the lateral nasal gland.The postorbital process is over hanged thetemporal fossa (Figs1,2,7,8,10).The temporal bone forms of two parts; squamouspart and ear capsule. The ear capsule has anirregular circular pneumatic cavity which isextended deeply, rostoventrally, until reachingthe floor of the cranium and internally containsround narrow internal acoustic meatus. Thecapsule is demarcated by the squamoustemporal bone laterally, basisphenoid,rostomedially and the lateral parts of occipitalbone, caudomedially. The latter capsule is

crossed transversaly by a cresentic groove calledan orobasal articular groove which articulateswith the otic process of quadrate bone. The squa-mous temporal bone has a large flat zygomaticprocess which is projected rostroventrallybelow the temporal fossa and lateral to the oticprocess of the quadrate bone. Both parts of thetemporal bone share in the forming of theventrolateral bony boundary of the craniumwhich having internally the shallow cerebellarfossa (Figs 3,4,5,6,7,8).The quadrate bone takes the name from theshape. It consists of a body and three processes;mandibular, otic and orbital. The mandibularprocess is the most ventral largest one thatdivided by a deep groove into two medial andlateral condyles. The latter condyles articulatewith the two medial and lateral facets on thedorsal cavity of the articular part of the man-dible. The medial condyle is larger and moredescends than the lateral one. Also, themandibular process articulates with the ptery-goid bone, medially and with the quadratojugalprocess of the jugal bone, laterally. The oticprocess of quadrate bone is embedded dorsallyin between basisphenoid, ear capsule and squa-mous temporal bone, for articulation with thecresentic groove of the temporal bone. Theorbital process is wide with free end that isprojected rostomedially toward the orbit (Figs3,4,56,8).The lacrimal bone is small bone covers medi-ally the frontal process of the nasal bone,demarcates the supraorbital fissure laterally andis fused caudally with the frontal bone. It hasexternal smooth depressed surface andinternal concave rough surface represents thelateral boundary of the frontal sinus (Figs1,2,10).The nasal bone is ceiled the nasal cavity andalso sutures rostrally with the frontal processof premaxilla to form the upper beak. It isbranched into three processes; frontal, premax-illary and lateral nasal. Frontal process lodgescaudally in between the lacrimal bone laterallyand frontal process of frontal bone medially. Thepremaxillary process prolongs rostrally belowthe frontal process of premaxilla. The lateralnasal one constitutes only the lateral bony




boundary of the nasal cavity and not reaches tothe maxilla (Figs 1,2,8,10). Premaxilla forms ofthe three processes which coalesce with thebody rostrally giving the spear shape of theupper beak. The maxillary process begins thick,wide rostrally and tapered caudally fusing withthe maxilla. The palatine process represents bya narrow thin plate of bone attaches andsupports along its course the maxilla laterallyand the palatine bone caudally. The palatineprocess of both sides unites with each othercranially enclosing a broad large cleft. Thefrontal process of premaxilla of both sides is su-tured to each other covering the nasal bone whichis directed caudally reaching the frontal boneforming nasofrontal hinge (Figs 1,2,3,4,8,9,10).The maxillary bone is small, delicate boneconstitutes the caudal rim of the upper beak anda part of bony palate, its rostral narrow part (pre-maxillary process) joins laterally with maxillaryprocess of premaxilla and medially with palatineprocess of premaxilla. It is gradually broadenand branched caudally to fuse with pterygoidbone by pterygoid process of maxilla mediallyand form jugal process of maxilla laterally (Figs1,2,8,9). Zygomatic (jugal) bone is a thin rounded rodlike prolongation of the caudolateral rim of theupper beak. Paired jugal bones diverges bycurved manner caudally toward quadrate boneto form three fused bony parts; jugal process ofmaxilla bone, jugal and quadratojugal (Figs1,2,3,4,6,8).The palatine bone is a delicate quadrilateralbony plate present on both sides of vomer bone.It is joined with the posterior part of premaxillaand maxilla, rostrally while it overlaps the endof rostral pterygoid process, caudally (Figs3,4,9).The pterygoid bone is parallel thin quadrilateraldelicate bony plates. It is placed on either sideof vomer. It is directed caudally by short, thicklike process (quadrate process) which joints andlodges in-between presphenoid medially andquadrate bone laterally. The other rostral long,narrow process (palatine part) fuses with pa-latine, maxilla and premaxilla (Figs 3,4,6).

Vomer is a long tube like bone locates in themedian plane of the floor of the skull. It has anarrow rostral end and wide caudal part whichis fused with bars like processes of presphenoid.Along its course it grooved dorsally for includ-ing the nasal septum (Figs 3,4,7).The mandible of the ostrich is nearly V shapedwith curved two Rami, which connects rostrallyforming wide mandibular symphysis andconverges with each other caudally. It consistsof four fused parts; dentary, angular, supraangular and articular parts. The dentary bonesof either side are connected rostrally to adaptthe shape of the upper jaw and form themandibular symphysis, distally. It has numerouslateral and medial rostral mandibular foramina.The angular bones are bounded the dentarybones caudolaterally, which bifid caudallygiving dorsal and ventral delicate processes. Thesupra angular part fuses caudally with articularpart of mandible and rostrally intercalates bytwo dorsal and ventral delicate processes, withthe two processes of angular bone. The dorsalprocess of supra angular bone is directedoutward while the ventral one is directedinward. It has an outward dorsal border andinward directed ventral one. It contains flatlateral surface and grooved rough medial one.The lateral and medial surfaces have caudalmandibular foramina. The articular part consti-tutes caudal part of the mandible which looksprismatic in shape. It is splited into irregular deepdorsal articular cavity and a shallower medialovoid muscular one being distinguished fromeach other by a bony plate. The latter is directedrostomedially forming, a process (mandibularprocess) for attaching the ligament and jointcapsule of quadratomandibular joint andprojects caudally by a blunted angle. The dorsalarticular cavity is congruent and articulates withthe mandibular process of the quadrate boneby two medial and lateral facets formingquadratomandibular joint (Figs 11,12). Thehyoid consisted of bones and cartilaginous partsassociated with upper respiratory system form-ing the hyobranchial apparatus.The bony nasal cavity is the smallest cavity inthe ostrich skull bounded dorsally by the nasalbone, frontal process of premaxilla and horizontal



plate of ethmoidal bone. Dorsolaterally, it is lim-ited by the lateral process of the nasal bone.The ventral boundaries from rostral to caudalare the maxillary and palatine processes ofpremaxilla, maxilla, palatine bone and therostral part of pterygoid bone, respectively.The two right and left halves of the nasal cavityare completely separated by an osseous nasalseptum (Figs 2,7,8). The nasal septum projectsrostrally till termination of the vomer and fusescaudally with the vertical part of ethmoid andthe interorbital septum. The nasal septum issupported dorsally by the horizontal plate ofethmoid and nasal bone, while it is lodged ven-trally on the dorsal aspect of the vomer (Figs7,8).The bony boundaries of the ostrich cranial cav-ity are the frontal bone, dorsally; basioccipitaleand basisphenoid, rostoventrally; the parietaland supraoccipital part, caudally and posteriorpart of interorbital septum, rostrally while thelateral aspect is temporal bone. Internally, it isdivided by a transverse crest into upper large,deep cerebral fossa and lower small shallowcerebellar fossa. Distally it has maxillomandi-bular foramen (Figs 2,7,8). The large cavity inostrich skull is the orbital cavity. It is incompleteorbit that is roofed by the frontal bone, boundedventrally by the pterygoid and jugal bones,medially by the frontal bone and interorbitalseptum, rostrally by the vertical plate of ethmoi-dal bone and caudally by the frontal bone,temporal fossa, squamous temporal bone andquadrate bones (Figs 2,7,8).Right and left frontal sinuses are the bonyparanasal sinuses in ostrich skull that is locatedin between the nasal and cranial cavities. At themedian plane, they separate from each otherby a thin bony plate. It is bounded dorsally bythe frontal process of the frontal bone andlaterally by the lacrimal and the vertical plateof ethmoidal bone. It is pierced by paired olfac-tory foramina connecting it with the cranialcavity, but communicating rostrally by a wideoval foramen to the nasal cavity (Figs 3,4,7,9).

DISCUSSION

occipital bone in ostrich has a rounded Foramenmagnum that is situated basally which similarto pigeon skull and unlike duck and goose whichvertically directed in the grey heron [4,7, 8]. Incontrary to that mentioned by [9] in emu, thereis a pear shaped occipital condyle. Moreover,the paired lateral part of occipital bone has abroad like process which attached distally by aligament to the articular part of the mandiblethat is conflicted with [9], that noted theexoccipitale articulated with the mandible.Parallel to [8] in fowl and [9] in emu, the samebony parts of sphenoid bone except [8] in gooseand duck mentioned that basispenoid has dis-tinct muscular processes and grooves. However,[9] added well developed mandibular processeswere present at the junction of basisphenoid andpresphenoid.Surprisingly, the ethmoid did notparticipate in the formation of neurocranium. Thelatter completely agreed with that reported by[8, 9]. Although a little difference in the presentwork conflicted with [9] that the ethmoid bonelocated under the frontal bone and also with [10]that noticed in crow that the horizontal part wasreduced.In contrast with [8, 9] that recorded thatthe frontal bone possessed frontal, orbital andnasal processes, meanwhile, this study agreedwith that revealed by [11] in goose. It is of greatimportance to know that, the present investiga-tion and [9] revealed no orbital process oftemporal bone. On the other hand, [8] introducean orbital process of the squamous temporalbone above the temporal fossa, which is stoutand long in duck and geese, more slender in fowland rudimentary in pigeons. The latter authorsadded that the orbital process in fowl fused withthe zygomatic process of temporal bone.Unlike[9] that reported there are frontal, lacrimal andcranial processes of lacrimal bone that formedthe cranioventral margin of the orbit. In thesame line with [8] that added there was a smalllacrimal bone in fowl and pigeon and large induck and geese, but the present study revealedno movable joint between the lacrimal andnasal bone.Similar to [12, 13] in ostrich and [14]in Baryphthengus ruficapillus, the same struc-tures and articulations of the quadrate bonewere noticed. However, different result wascleared by [9] who clarified that, the oticprocess articulated with the zygomatic process

The obtained results correlate with that reportedby [7, 8] the neurocranium of large birds asostrich appears small size and this finding mayreflect the largest orbital cavity. Notably, the



of temporal bone, a lateral process articulatedwith jugal bone and the orbital process was justlike a bulla which was broad with oval free end.A variable finding is noted by [4] in grey hornadded that the quadrate bone has three condylesarticulate with the mandible. It is also interest-ing to know that [8, 11] in goose detected thatthe lateral nasal process of nasal bone don’treach and fuse with the maxilla, meanwhile theopposite observations found in fowl [8, 11] and[9]. Regarding the premaxilla of ostrich, [9] inthe emu and [8] in fowl and pigeon reported novariation in the current study that, there is abroad cleft of palatine process of premaxillaotherwise in duck and geese [8, the two Palatineprocesses on both sides fused medially forminga plating palate which has a short narrow slitlike opening. The present work conflicted with[8, 9] that revealed a connection of maxilla withnasal bone. The shape of palatine bone in fowland pigeon is rod like that differs from thepresent research, but similar with duck andgeese [8].The vomer is rudimentary in fowl and pigeon [8]thus completely differ with the current observa-tion. The latter may contribute to flightregarding.The descriptions of bony nasal cavityand nasal septum go hand to hand with [15] inostrich. The obtained results of the bony bound-ary of the ostrich cranial cavity was nearly simi-lar with [11]. Dissimilar to [16, 17] in fowl thatthe roof of the cranial cavity formed by the fron-tal, parietal and supraoccipital bones. Theostrich mandible is a nearly V shape with twoRami, which jointed rostrally forming wider man-dibular symphysis that is correlated with thatrevealed by [18] in the the rock pigeon. Recently,[9] reflects the same result that the mandibleof emu having angular, articular, supra angularand dental parts. Even though, [11] in fowl and[18] in the rock pigeon added that, there are fiveparts of mandible; splenial, angular, supra-angular, articular and prearticular. Moreover, [8]in fowl recorded six parts; articular, angular,supra-angular, complementary, opercular anddental. Really, the angular part of mandible inthis investigation has dorsal and ventralprocesses which are projected caudally, thatconflicts with [9] who reported a medial processwhich directed forward and outward whereas

the lateral process directed inward.In agreementwith [9], [19] in the hooded crow and [12] thearticular process is divided into two facets;medial larger facet and smaller lateral one.Furthermore, [19] in the cattle egret found threemedial, lateral and caudal facets.A Significantresult is obtained in this work that the skull ofthe ostrich is similar to domestic birds almostto duck and geese rather than fowl and pigeonskulls.

CONCLUSIONAs general of birds, the bony head in ostrichcontains two groups of bones neurocranium andsplanchnocranium and there is no interparietalbone. A significant result was obtained in thiswork that, there are variations in shape and com-ponents of ostrich skull bones in comparison withother birds. The similarity to small domesticbirds was almost near to duck and geese ratherthan fowl and pigeon skulls. Also, there are somevariations with large birds like an emu. Thesedifferences might be due to the different pat-terns of feeding behavior.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis research was supported by the departmentof anatomy and embryology, faculty of veteri-nary medicine. Zagazig University. We thank thedepartment of surgery in our faculty, especiallyDr, Ahmed Moneur Assistant lecturer of surgeryfor the kindly assistance in X-ray scan prepara-tion.Conflicts of Interests: NoneREFERENCES[1]. Jamroz D. Feeding ostriches and emus: physiologi-

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How to cite this article:Attia A.A. Moselhy, Sherif Kh. A. Mohamed, Hanaa M. El-Ghazali.ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF BONES AND BONY CAVITIES OF THEOSTRICH SKULL (STRUTHIO CAMELUS). Int J Anat Res2018;6(2.3):5390-5398. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2018.213

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