Anatomical Characteristics and Histopathological Findings in the Thoracic Cavity of the Cat

Abstract

Background. The thoracic cavity is formed by a great variety of organs with diverse functions. Within it are organs that are part of the digestive system such as the oesophagus as well as organs that contribute to cardiorespiratory function such as the trachea, heart and lung. Objectives. The aim of this study is to review the anatomy of the thoracic cavity of the cat in comparison with the contrasting literature, in addition to classify and describe the most frequent pathologies observed in 137 necropsy cases between the years 2018-2019. Summary. The work was divided into two parts, one based on the anatomical study of the thoracic cavity and the other on the study of the most frequent pathologies found during 2017 and 2018. In order to achieve an adequate study of the thoracic cavity, it was necessary to perform a complete dissection of the thoracic cavity to observe the anatomical structures present and, subsequently, to photograph it in order to compare it with the literature. On the other hand, a review of the cases submitted to the necropsy service between 2017-2018 was carried out, that included 137 cats. Pathological findings were observed in 99 cases. Literature review and comparison was also performed. Conclusion. The results obtained in the anatomy part were in perfect agreement with those described by certain references such as Veterinary Anatomy (Sandoval, 2000) and Veterinary Anatomy (Dyce et al., 2010). On the other hand, the most affected organ in the thoracic cavity was the lung, followed by the heart, pleura, mediastinum, diaphragm, trachea and oesophagus.