Heart anatomy of Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi: a case report

Abstract

In the present study the most outstanding anatomical findings of the heart of a giraffe are described. Two papillary muscles were found in the right ventricle, namely magnus and subarterial. There were no papillary parvi muscles. The supraventricular crest gave insertion to various tendinous chords. These chords fixed the angular cusp of the right atrioventricular valve. The pectinate muscles were better developed in the left auricle than in the right one. Within the left ventricle two big papillary muscles were found as well as a notorious septomarginal trabecula. The left coronary artery irrigated the majority of the heart's territory. It gave origin to the interventricular paraconal branch and to the circumflex branch. The latter gave off the branch of the left ventricular border and the interventricular subsinosal branch.

Keywords

• animal anatomy
• heart anatomy
• wild animals
• giraffidae
• coronary vessels