Anatomical and topographic features of parotid gland vascularization in companion animals

Special attention is paid to the digestive system when keeping companion animals. The digestive system consists of a large number of organs that occupy a certain niche in the chain of capture, digestion and excretion of food. As a rule, the oral cavity is the first department, which is responsible for the capture of food and the formation of a food coma. Among the digestive glands involved in the process, one of the important roles is assigned to the salivary glands. There are many works devoted to the act of salivation, but as a rule, these works are of a physiological nature. Scientific works related to salivary glands on anatomical and functional features in animals, in particular agricultural ones, are fragmentary. Not knowing the issues of anatomical topography, structure, and vascularization in companion animals, it is difficult to carry out various medical therapeutic and surgical manipulations. The aim of the study was to study the anatomical and topographic features of the vascularization of the parotid gland of companion animals and to carry out morphometry of the arterial vessels feeding it. Companion animals, in particular dogs and cats, served as the object of the study. The methods used for the study were fine anatomical dissection, morphometry using a ruler and calipers, vasorentgenography, computed tomography. The study established anatomical and topographic features of the parotid gland vascularization of companion animals, as well as morphometric measurements of arterial vessels. The main source of nutrition of the parotid gland in companion animals is the artery of the parotid gland and branches of the parotid gland. Arterial sources feeding the parotid gland are repeatedly divided according to the main type up to the vessels of the third order. All vessels of the gland have a branching pattern, namely, it passes from the periphery to the center. The course of branching of vessels in this gland is loop–shaped.