Topographic Analysis of Infraorbital and Supraorbital Foramina in Four Cattle Breeds

This study aimed to evaluate the topographic anatomy of the infraorbital and supraorbital foramina in four cattle breeds: Holstein (H), Simmental (S), Eastern Anatolian Red (D), and Southeastern Anatolian Red (G). The objective was to identify breed-related anatomical differences that may assist in clinical procedures such as regional nerve blocks. A total of 92 adult cattle skulls were examined. Six measurements were recorded around the infraorbital and supraorbital regions, including infraorbital foramen height (IOFH), infraorbital foramen width (IOFW), distance from the facial tuberosity to the infraorbital foramen (FTIOF), infraorbital foramen to the root of the alveolar tooth (IFRAT), dorsal margin of the orbit to the supraorbital groove (DMOSG), and supraorbital groove to the supraorbital foramen (SGSOF). One-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests were used to assess statistical differences among breeds. All measured parameters showed statistically significant differences among the breeds. Non-native breeds such as Holstein and Simmental have higher average values in most measurements compared to native breeds like East Anatolian Red and Southeast Anatolian Red. The greatest interbreed variation occurred in SGSOF (52.45 ± 1.80 mm) and FTIOF (55.96 ± 5.16 mm), with Holstein showing the highest measurements. By demonstrating that the dimensions and spatial relationships of the infraorbital and supraorbital foramina vary significantly across breeds, this study provides breed-specific morphometric data that can enhance the precision of regional anaesthesia and improve the safety of surgical procedures in veterinary practice.