Neurometry and Neurocraniometry of the Nigerian Local Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study investigates the linear morphometry of the brain and the neurocranium which houses it, in the Nigerian local dog. A total of twenty-five dogs (11 males, 14 females) were used for this study. The males recorded a heavier body weight, weight of head and brain. The females recorded higher values for the length of brain, height and length of cerebellum, and the whole skull height and length relative to the males, although no statistically significant differences were observed (P>0.05). Values obtained for the neurocranial volume was similar between the sexes, while the neurocranial height and length was higher in the males, even though no statistically significant differenceswere observed (P>0.05). Pearson‟scorrelation analysis showed a negative correlation between the weight of the animal and length of brain and the height and length of cerebellum, showing that values for these parameters were likely to relatively higher in younger animals. This study shows correlation relationship between neurometric and neurocraniometric parameters, data obtained may find application in veterinary clinical neuroanatomy of dolichocephalic-type dogs.

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