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SCVMJ, XVII (2) 2012
119
Gross anatomical features of the nasal cavity of the hooded
crow (Corvus cornix)
Hassan, S. A.
Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Suez Canal University, Egypt
Summary
The current study aimed to clarify the detailed gross features of
the nasal cavity in hooded crow by using ten adult crows. The
heads of the birds were sectioned sagittally and transversely in a
rostro-caudal sequence. The nasal cavity was elongated oval in
form. It divided into vestibule that occupied by the rostral half of
the rostral nasal concha , fundus which was represented by a
narrow zone in the caudodorsal end of the nasal cavity and nasal
cavity proper in between the vestibule and the fundus. It formed
rostrally by the nostrils which were two circular openings located
laterally at the junction between the rostral two thirds and caudal
third of the upper beak. The rostral nasal concha lay opposite the
nostrils and showed C-shaped appearance in transverse section
about 7mm long and 4mm wide dorso-ventrally at its base. The
caudal nasal concha situated horizontally caudodorsal to the
rostral one, measuring about 13 mm long and 4 mm wide dorsoventrally. In cross section, it exhibited a scroll-like structure
consisting of one and half circle. The infraorbital sinus was well
developed in hooded crow.
Introduction
The nasal cavity of avian species
extends from the nostrils to the
choana,
possessing
several
anatomical features such as conchae
and meatuses (Bang, 1985). There
are principally three conchae with
broad variations in forms in most
avian species; the rostral, middle,
and caudal nasal conchae, implying
homology to those of the mammals
and other vertebrates (Bang, 1985).
There is also an accessory concha,
the septal nasal concha, which is
very unique to Petrels (Bang,
1971). The three common conchae
are present in most avian species
particularly domestic birds, the
rostral one is, at times, absent in
Sulidae (Bang, 1971) and quail
(King and McLelland, 1984 and
Aysun, İbrahim and Merih, 2007).
The middle nasal concha lacks in
Phalacrocoracids
(Bang
and
Wenzel, 1985), and the caudal nasal
concha in some taxa including
Collocolia (Bang, 1971) and
Psittacus
(Pohlmeyer
and
Kummerfeld, 1989). The form of
the meatuses naturally differs
120
Hassan S.
A.
greatly in the birds lacking one of
the chonchae.
The hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
is an opportunistic generalist
predator and scavenger using
mostly visual cues to find a wide
range of food including grain, small
mammals, carrion and rubbish
(Coombs, 1978; Yom-Tov, 1974;
Cocker, Mark, Mabey, and
Richard, 2005). It is a major
predator of bird’s eggs and young
(Mehlum, 1991; Luginbuhl et al.,
2001and Sullivan and Dinsmore,
1990) and as such is targeted as a
pest species especially in bird game
industries wishing to maximize
fledging success (Coombs 1978).
The hooded crow is distributed
locally in Nile Delta and vally
(Mahmoud, 1997)
Recent increasing usage of different
avian species rather than domestic
chicken as models for biological
research leads the anatomists to
focus their studies on the
morphology of these species
(Baumel, King, Breazile, Evans ,
1993; Dyce et al.,1996 and
McLelland, 1990). This study
aimed at augmenting the knowledge
on the gross morphology of the
nasal cavity of the hooded crow in
particular and to compare it with
other birds. Therefore, the findings
of this study might have a valuable
contribution to the avian anatomy.
Material and methods
The current study was carried out
on ten adult apparently healthy
hooded crows of both sexes. The
birds were obtained from wild bird's
hunters at Damieta governorate,
Egypt.
They
were
gently
decapitated. The heads were
sectioned sagittally and transversely
in a rostro-caudal sequence. The
nasal septum was also removed and
the structures in the nasal cavity
were then grossly described and
photographed using digital camera
Nikon
coolpex100.
The
terminology in this study was
adopted according to the Nomina
Anatomica Avium (Baumel et al,
1993).
Age
was
determine
according to Rasmussen and
Anderton (2005)
Results
The nasal cavity in hooded crow
began by the nostrils which were
two circular openings located
laterally at the junction between the
rostral two thirds and caudal third
of the upper beak. The rostral end
of the rostral nasal choncha could
be seen from the nostril (Fig. 1).
The nasal septum divided the nasal
cavity into two equal halves and
presented a rostral cartilaginous part
and a caudal membranous part
(Fig.2) while, its caudoventral part
was formed by the vomer (Fig. 3).
The nasal cavity was bounded
ventrally by the palatin bone,
dorsally by nasal bone, laterally by
the nasal and maxillary bones,
caudally by prefrontal bone,
rostarlly by premaxilla (Fig.3). The
choanal opening which connected
SCVMJ, XVII (2) 2012
the nasal cavity with the oropharynx
consisted of a narrow slit-like short
rostral part and a wide elongated
triangular caudal part (Fig.4). The
length of the rostral part was about
5 mm and that of the caudal part
was about 12 mm. the width of the
rostral part was about 1 mm while
that of the caudal part was about 2
mm.
The nasal cavity possesed two
conchae (rostral and caudal). The
rostral nasal concha was located
opposite to the nostrils and
occupied the rostral 4th of nasal
cavity (Fig.1). It was triangular in
outline with the apex directed
caudoventrally and the base
dorsally (Fig.5). It measured about
7mm long and 4 mm wide at the
base. Its cranial edge found in the
middle of the nostril (Fig.1). The
lateral border of the rostral nasal
concha attached to the lateral wall
of the nasal vistibule. The rostral
concha presented a half circle
forming a recess which was
connected to the ventral nasal
meatus. In transverse section, it was
c–shaped projected from the lateral
wall of the nasal cavity that curved
ventrally (Figs.6&7).
The caudal nasal concha was long
and nearly oval in outline (Fig. 5).
Its width was about 4mm at the
middle, 3mm at the rostral part, and
2mm at the caudal part while the
length was about 13mm. Its caudal
121
border attached to the olfactory
region of the nasal cavity (nasal
fundus) (Fig. 5). The lateral border
attached to the lateral wall of the
nasal cavity, while its the rostral
border was free (Figs. 7&8). In
transverse section it formed one and
half turns (Figs. 7&8). The caudal
nasal
concha
was
located
caudodorsally to the rostral one.
There were 4 nasal meatuses
described in hooded crow. The 1st
meatus lay between the roof of the
nasal cavity dorsally and the caudal
nasal concha ventrally and lead to
the nasal fundus. The 2nd nasal
meatus located between the rostral
and caudal nasal chonchae. The 3rd
nasal meatus between the rostral
and caudal nasal chonchae dorsally
and the floor of the nasal cavity
ventrally and lead to the choana
(Fig.5).The
common
nasal
meatus(Fig.6) is the widest one and
continued freely with the previously
mentioned three meatuses.
The infraorbital sinuses in hooded
crow
were
distinct
roughly
triangular cavity situated just rostral
to the orbit in the lateral region of
the base of the upper jaw (Fig.9).
Each began about 5 mm caudal to
the nostril and extended caudally to
end just rostral to the orbit (Fig.9).
each had direct communication with
the nasal cavity by a small opening
(Fig.10).
122
Hassan S.
A.
Fig. 1 ( a&b): Lateral view of the upper beak of an adult hooded crow:1Rostrum maxillare, 2-Naris, 3-Concha nasalis rostralis, 4- A group of fine
featers, 5- Oculus, 6- Sinus infraorbitalis.
Fig.(2): A sagittal section through
the head of an adult hooded crow:1Septum nasale (pars rostralis), 2Septum nasale (pars caudalis)
Fig.(3):Lateral (a) and ventral (b) views of the skull of the hooded crow :1Os premaxillare, 2-Os nasale, 3- Os maxillare, 4- Os prefrontale, 5- Os
quadratojugale, 6- Sinus infraorbitalis, 7- Vomer
Fig.(4): The roof of the
oropharynx of an adult hooded
crow:1-Tomium maxillare, 2Choana (Pars rostralis), 3Choana (Pars caudalis), 4-Horny
papillae
SCVMJ, XVII (2) 2012
123
Fig.(5): A sagittal section through the
head of the hooded crow after
removal of the nasal septum:1Concha nasalis rostralis, 2-Concha
nasalis caudalis, 3-&4-&5- Meatuses
nasales (1st, 2nd and 3rd meatueses)
Fig.(6) Transverse section through the rostral nasal conchae (2mm caudal to
the nostrils). Fig.(7): Transverse section through the middle nasal conchae
(5mm caudal to the nostrils):1-Septum nasale, 2-Concha nasalis rostralis, 3Concha nasalis caudalis, 4-Palatum, 5-Opening of infraorbital sinus, 6-Sinus
infraorbitalis, 7-Meatus nasalis communis
Fig.(8):
Transverse
section
through the middle nasal concha
of an adult hooded crow (4mm
rostral to the rostral angle of the
eye):1-Septum nasale, 2-Concha
nasalis caudalis, 3-Palatum, 4Sinus infraorbitalis, 5-Choana
124
Hassan S.
A.
Fig.(9):Lateral view of skull (a) and head (b) of an adult hooded crow :1- Os
prefrontale, 2-Os nasale, 3- Os quadratojugale, 4-Sinus infraorbitalis , 5-Os
maxillare , 6-Cavitas nasalis, 7- Bulbus oculi.
Fig.(10): A photograph of the
roof of the oropharynx of an
adult hooded crow (after
reflection of the palate):1Palatum –reflected-, 2-Cavitas
nasalis,
3-Concha
nasalis
caudalis, 4-Sinus infraorbitalis,
5-Tomium maxilare
Discussion
The gross anatomy of the nasal
cavity was described in domestic
fowl (McLelland, 1990), Denizli
cock (Taşbaş; Hazıroğlu; Çakır;
and Özer , 1994) and domestic
ducks (Das; Mishra; and Biswal,
1965).
The nostrils of the hooded crow
composed of two wide circular
openings located on the dorsolateral
aspect of the caudal third of the bill
similar to that in duck (Das et al,
1965), while they were elongated in
chickens (Baumel et al, 1993). The
size of the nostrils was reduced by
the nasal operculum in (Gallus
(Fitzgerald, 1970; Nickel et al,
1977 and Dyce et al, 1996) and in
Japanese quail (Aysun et al, 2007).
On the contrary, the current study
recorded no nasal operculum in the
hooded crow but the nostrils were
covered completely by a tuft of fine
feathers.
The choana was a median elongated
opening consisting of a triangular
caudal part and a slit-like rostral
part, simulating that in domestic
fowl (King, 1975) and quail
(Fitzgerald, 1970 and Aysun et al.,
2007)
however
in
certain
SCVMJ, XVII (2) 2012
galliformes, the edges of the choana
remain unfused forming a cleft
connecting the nasal cavity to the
oral cavity (Baumel et al, 1993).
King and McLelland (1984) and
McLelland (1990) reported that the
rostral nasal chonca was absent in
quails, but Aysun et a. (2007)
observed it in the Japanese quail.
Also,
Fitzgerald
(1970)
documented it in Coturnix genus.
The moist mucous membrane and
the rich blood structure of the nasal
cavity help in warming and filtering
the inhaled air. The absence or
presence of the one of the nasal
choncae might only be speculated at
this stage as the less or more
warming or filtering requirements
in the nasal cavity of the hooded
crow.
Like our findings, Fitzgerald (1970)
recorded that the caudal border of
the rostral nasal chonca in Coturnix
genus attaches to the dorsal border
of the nostril, and its free dorsal and
ventral edges were scrolled. On
other hand, Aysun et al (2007) in
the Japanese quail mentioned that
the caudal border of the rostarl
nasal concha attached ventrally to
the floor of the nasal cavity while it
fastened dorsally to the dorsal
border of the nasal cavity forming a
completely closed structure so there
was no communicating air ways
observed from inside space of the
rostaral nasal concha to outer
spaces. Our study displayed a Cshaped rostral nasal chonca in the
hooded crow observed in transverse
section. The same results were
125
recorded in the Japanese quail by
Aysun et al (2007). On the contrary,
King and McLelland (1984) in
transverse sections of the rostaral
nasal concha of domestic fowl
appeared a simple, branched, T- or
scroll-like shape with an additional
vertical lamella of cartilage that
arose from the ventral border of the
nostril.
The caudal nasal concha was larger
than the rostral one possessing a
scroll. It represented the middle
nasal concha recorded by Aysun et
al. (2007) in the Japanese quail,
King and McLelland (1984) and
Taşbaş et al, (1994) in domestic
birds and Fitzgerald (1970) in
Coturnix genus.
The caudal nasal concha in
Coturnix genus, according to
Fitzgerald (1970), was the smallest
nasal concha. In Japanese quail it
was also the smallest nasal concha
Aysun et al (2007), as in the pigeon
(Doğuer and Erençin, 1964 and
Nickel et al, 1977). However, this
concha is a fairly constant feature in
birds, but is occasionally missing as
in some falconiformes and swifts
(King and McLelland, 1984). Also
this concha was absent in hooded
crow. Moreover, the septal nasal
concha, a very unique structure of
Petrels (Bang, 1971), was also not
observed in hooded crow like that
recorded in Japanese quail by
Aysun et al (2007).
The infraorbital sinus was a
triangular paranasal cavity situated
beneath the orbit and in the lateral
region of the upper jaw in hooded
126
Hassan S.
A.
crow smilar to that reported by
Fitzgerald (1970) in quails.
In conclusion, this study focused on
the gross anatomy of the nasal
cavity in the hooded crow and
comparing it with other birds. These
findings may be useful for the
researchers who are interested in
gross anatomy and surgery of the
hooded crow for the treatment of
some disorders.
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‫الملخص العربى‬
‫الخصائص التشريحية العيانية للتجويف األنفى فى الغراب المقنع‬
‫سعيد حسن‬
‫جامعة قناة السويس‬،‫ كلية الطب البيطري‬،‫قسم التشريح واألجنة‬
‫تهدف الدراسة الحالية لتوضيح مالمح مفصلة للتجويف األنف في الغراب المقنع من خالل‬
‫ وقطعت رؤوس الطيور قطاعات طولية وعرضية من‬.‫من الغربان الناضجة‬01 ‫استخدام‬
‫ وقد وجد ان تجويف األنف يبدا من فتحتي األنف وهى عبارة عن فتحتين‬.‫االمام الى الخلف‬
‫دائريتين يقعان فى الجهة الوحشية عند اتصال الثلثين االمامين بالثلث الخلفى من المنقار‬
‫ ووجد ان محارة االنف االمامية تقع مقابل فتحة االنف وتكون واضحة وظاهرة من‬.‫العلوى‬
4 ‫ مم وعرضها‬7 ‫ فى القطاع العرضى ويبلغ طولها‬C ‫ وهى على شكل حرف‬،‫فتحة االنف‬
‫ أما المحارة االنفية الخلفية تقع أفقيا فى الجانب العلوى الخلفى للمحارة األنفية االمامية‬.‫مم‬
‫ مم وتتكون فى المقطع العرضيى من دائرة‬4 ‫ مم و عرضها‬01 ‫ويصل طولها حوالي‬
.‫ وقد وجد ان الجيب تحت الحجاجى في الغراب المقنع واضح وكبير‬.‫مزدوجة‬