Abstract:

Objective To identify the anatomic characters of the caudal artery in rats so as to provide anatomical evidences for animal experiments. Methods  Ten rats were subjected to anatomy following caoutchouc perfusion into the artery by inserting tubes through the heart, 10 were subjected to dissection following artery and vein perfusion, and 10 were subjected to dissection immediately following anesthesia. Diameter of the caudal artery was measured. ResultsIn the ventral median of rat′s caudae there was a  coccygeal median artery erupting several branches. The coccygeal median vein accompanied it in deep layer. Transverse diameters of the coccygeal median artery and vein were 1.02±0.06?mm, 1.60±0.09?mm at the fifth coccygeal vertebrae, 0.50±0.01mm, 0.89±0.03mm at the thirteenth coccygeal vertebrae, and 0.45±0.02mm, 0.71±0.04mm at the twenty-third coccygeal vertebrae. Conclusion The diameter of the coccygeal media artery in rat′s caudae matches the requirement of anastomosis in microsurgery.

Key words: Blood 1vessel； Caudal artery； Caudal vein； Microanatomical； Rat， Wistar