Phenotypic and Anatomical Structure of Thyroid Gland in Domestic Cat and Owls: A Comparative Study

The purpose of the study was to compare the anatomical characteristics of the thyroid gland in two different vertebrate species: the owl (Strix varia) and the domestic cat (Felis catus). Six disease-free animals varying-aged from each species were included in the study. The thyroid gland of the cat was found to have a right and left lobe, situated in the cervical area, entirely beneath the larynx, and connected to both sides of the trachea. These findings were obtained from a macroscopic examination of the gland. Unlike in many other mammals, the two lobes are connected by an isthmus. The thyroid lobes have a reddish-pink hue and appeared elongated The macroscopic anatomy the owl’s thyroid gland's revealed that it is symmetrically shaped, either oval or spherical, flat on the dorso-ventral side, and dark reddish-brown in color. similar to the cat, the two halves of the gland are not attached by an isthmus. The glandis located on both sides of the trachea and on the ventral side of the back of the neck.