TOPOGRAPHIC ANATOMY

OF ABDOMINAL ORGANS
Dr.Razia Kausar,
Assistant Professor
BOVINES
• Right Side
• Omasum cannot be palpated, but in traumatic peritonitis of this organ
pain is evidenced by deep pressure in the ventral part of the right 7th –
9th intercostals spaces and in the right xiphoid region.
• Abomasum The fundus of the Abomasum is in the xiphoid region, the
body lies near the midline, more in the left than on the right; the
pylorus is near the ventral end of the 9th or 10th intercostal spaces on
the right side.
 to be continued

• Liver Palpate the last four intercostal spaces for evidence of pain
(Abscess) usually the liver cannot be palpated in the cranial angle of
the right paralumber fossa

• The right kidney can often be palpated here. Intestines: The upper
half of the right abdominal wall caudal to the costal arch is the area for
examination of the duodenum, mecum, and colon. The lower half is
usually occupied by the small intestine.
Para Lumber Fossa
Left Side
• Rumen covers the entire left side of the abdomen. Contractions twice
per minute are palpated in the dorsal third of the left flank. The food
level is normally palpable in the middle third of the abdominal wall.
• Reticulum cannot be palpated. It contacts the left abdominal wall at
the ventral ends of the 6th and 7th intercostals spaces.
• Spleen is not palpable unless grossly enlarged. Spleenic puncture is
performed in the left 12th intercostals space at the level of the tuber
coxae.
TOPOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE ABDOMINAL
ORGANS EQUINE
• The approximate areas of contact of various organs with the
abdominal wall are given below.
• Right Side
• 1. The base of the caecum or first bend of the right ventral colon is in
contact with the paralumbar fossa.
• The caecum is trocarized here, at a point equidistant from the last rib,
lumbar transverse process, and tuber coxae.
• 2. The body of the caecum occupies most of the caudal border of the
lateral abdominal wall.
3. The right dorsal and ventral colon is in contact with the
cranioventral wall.
4. Liver – Marked enlargements may be detected by palpation of the
liver below the costal arch and by rectal palpation of the caudate lobe.
Percussion may be performed in the right 10th to 17th intercostals
spaces; in the left 7th to 10th intercostals spaces.
Right Side
 to be continued

• Left Side Dorsal Half

• a. The spleen extends along the dorsal arch. Possible only in equines,
the dorsal end may be palpated per rectum lateral to the kidney. If it is
easily palpable it may indicate an overly distended stomach or a
grossly enlarged spleen.
• b. The small colon area is cranial to the tuber coxae. c. The small
intestine occupies an area ventral to that of the small colon d. Ventral
Half Left dorsal and ventral colon.
Left Half
HEART PERCUSSION AND
AUSCULTATION
• Locate and mark the 5th rib. It is opposite to the olecranon in vertical
limb. The object is to know whether the heart is enlarged or displaced.
Absolute cardiac dullness___ the area of contact of pericardium with
the thoracic wall.
• HORSE Right Side Dullness extends about 3cm. above the olecranon
in 4th intercostals space.
• Left Side Dullness extends about 7cm. above the olecranon in 4th
intercostal space, and about 3cm. above the olecranon in the 5th
intercostals space
OX
• Left Side In the ventral one third of the 3rd and 4th intercostals
• Right Side At the ventral end of the 4th rib.
• DOG
• Left Side At the level of costochondral junction in the 4th and 5th
intercostal space.
• Right Side Dullness extends 1 to 2 cm. from the sternum in the 4th
and 5th space.
Lung auscultation area
Horse
Cardiac puncture: -
• In the 4th or 5th intercostal space a few cm. above the

sternum, at about the level of olecranon on the right

side. Object is to obtain blood or to inject drugs

JUGULAR FURROW
• Extend the neck. Palpate the sternocephalicus at its divergence. Find ventral
border of brachiocephalicus. Press with the thumb to distend the jugular vein,
to see its course between sternocephalicus and brachiocephalicus.

• In Horse it is bounded by brachiocephalicus (cleidomastoideus) ventrally by

sternocephalicus and deeply by omohyoideus. In Ox it is bounded ventrally
by sternomandibularis and deeply by sternomastoid..
Horse and OX
Dog
• cephalic vein in the forelimb and saphenous vein in the hind limb is

used for blood collection. Veins are subcut, the point of entery of

cephalic vein being on the front of the forearm midway between elbow

and carpus