DESCRIPTION OF THE NORMAL HEAD STRUCTURES IN SHEEP (OVIS ARIES) BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND ANATOMICAL CROSS-SECTIONS

The current study was designed to describe the normal structures of the head region in sheep using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cross-sectional anatomy. Eight fresh heads of adult sheep of both sexes were used; two were scanned using MRI scanner with a 1.5 tesla magnet, and six fresh heads (n = 6) were frozen at -14oC to be sectioned into transverse (n = 4) and sagittal (n = 2) sections. The accessed MR images were serially matched to the corresponding gross sections for a comprehensive visualization of the relevant anatomical structures. The anatomical structures; bones, teeth, cartilages, muscles, membranes, nasal sinuses and meatuses exhibited variable intensities using T1- and T2-weighted MRI sequences. Moreover, the white and grey matter of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid were clearly outlined in T1- and T2-weighted MRI. The present study provided a normal anatomic reference of the head region of sheep using MRI to be used as a guide for further clinical diagnosis.