Morphology of the coronary arteries of the hybrid turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) toms’

Abstract

The coronary arteries of the meat type turkey were studied with corrosion casting method. 25 B.U.T. Big 6 20 weeks old male turkey hearts were collected from a slaughterhouse. The coronary arteries were filled through the aorta with an epoxy resin and after polymerisation the soft tissues were macerated to visualise the own arteries of the heart. Photos were taken about the finished specimens and the areas of the myocardium were identified supplied by the coronary vessels. The three main branches of the left coronary artery are the interatrial branch, the deep branch and the superficial branch. The interatrial branch supplies the medial part of the left and right atrias and the interatrial septum. The deep branch gives the blood supply for the cranial part of the left ventricle and the smaller, cranial part of the interventricular septum. The superficial branch runs in the coronary groove supplying the craniolateral and lateral part of the left ventricular wall and the lateral part of the left atria. The two main branches of the right coronary artery are the superficial branch and the deep branch. The deep branch—unlike mammals—is the strongest branch among the coronary vessels. It supplies the larger part of the interventricular septum, the apex of the heart and the caudal part of the left ventricle. The superficial branch ramificates in the right ventricular wall and in the right atrium.