Geoff Skerritt is a European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN), and former President of the ECVN. He was a co-founder of VetMRI, the first mobile veterinary MRI facility in Europe. He is the founder and former Director of ChesterGates Animal Referral Hospital, UK.

• Foreword xiiiPreface xvAcknowledgements xviiAbout the Author xixAbout the Contributors xixAbout the Companion Website xxi1 The Boundaries of the Abdomen 11.1 Introduction 11.2 The Diaphragm 11.3 The Layers of the Abdominal Wall 21.3.1 The skin 21.3.2 The subcutaneous fascia 21.3.3 The rectus abdominis muscle 21.3.4 External abdominal oblique muscle 31.3.5 Internal abdominal oblique muscle 51.3.6 Transverse abdominal muscle 61.3.7 Retroperitoneal fascia 71.3.8 Parietal peritoneum 81.4 The Sheath of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle 81.5 Clinical Importance of the Ventral Body Wall 81.6 The Inguinal Canal 91.7 Hernias 111.7.1 Inguinal hernia 111.7.2 Umbilical hernia 111.7.3 Perineal hernia 111.7.4 Diaphragmatic hernia 121.7.5 Post-operative hernia 122 Gastrointestinal Function 132.1 Introduction 132.2 Functions of the Alimentary Tract 132.2.1 Transport of food 132.2.2 Physical treatment of food 142.2.3 Chemical treatment of food 142.2.4 Absorption 152.3 Regions of the Alimentary Tract 152.4 Clinical Conditions Affecting Gastrointestinal Function 173 The Mesenteries, Ligaments and Omenta 193.1 The Greater Omentum 193.2 The Clinical Significance of the Greater Omentum 203.3 The Lesser Omentum 203.4 Ligaments 203.4.1 Abdominal ligaments 213.4.2 Pelvic ligaments 213.4.3 Pelvic ligaments – female 213.4.4 Pelvic ligaments – male 224 The Stomach 234.1 Overview of the Mammalian Stomach 234.2 Species Variations 234.2.1 Horse 234.2.2 Ox 254.2.3 Sheep 264.2.4 Pig 274.2.5 Dog 274.3 Clinical Conditions 284.3.1 Horse 284.3.2 Ox 284.3.3 Sheep 284.3.4 Pig 294.3.5 Dog 295 The Small Intestines 315.1 Duodenum, Jejunum and Ileum 315.2 Species Variations 325.2.1 Horse 325.2.2 Ox 335.2.3 Sheep 345.2.4 Pig 345.2.5 Dog 345.3 Clinical Conditions 365.3.1 Horse 365.3.2 Ox 365.3.3 Sheep 365.3.4 Pig 365.3.5 Dog 366 The Large Intestine 396.1 Overview 396.2 Species Variations 396.2.1 Horse 396.2.2 Ox 416.2.3 Sheep 426.2.4 Pig 426.2.5 Dog 436.3 Clinical Conditions 437 The Liver and Pancreas 457.1 The Liver 457.2 Anatomy of the Liver 457.3 Histology of the Liver 467.4 The Gall Bladder 467.5 Species Variations 477.5.1 Horse 477.5.2 Ruminants 477.5.3 Pig 487.5.4 Dog and Cat 497.6 The Pancreas 497.7 Clinical Conditions of the Liver and Pancreas 498 Arteries of the Abdomen and Pelvis 518.1 The Branches of the Abdominal Aorta 518.1.1 Coeliac artery 528.1.2 Cranial mesenteric artery 538.1.3 Phrenicoabdominal arteries 548.1.4 Renal arteries 548.1.5 Lumbar segmental arteries 558.1.6 Gonadal arteries 558.1.7 Caudal mesenteric artery 558.1.8 Deep circumflex iliac arteries 558.1.9 External iliac arteries 558.1.10 Internal iliac arteries 558.2 Species Variations 569 Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis 579.1 Tributaries of the Caudal Vena Cava 579.1.1 Deep circumflex iliac veins 579.1.2 Lumbar veins 579.1.3 The gonadal veins 589.1.4 Renal veins 589.1.5 Phrenicoabdominal veins 589.1.6 Hepatic veins 599.1.7 Phrenic veins 599.2 The Hepatic Portal Vein 599.3 The Mammary Glands 599.3.1 Species variations 6010 Lymphatics and the Spleen 6310.1 The Lymphatic System 6310.2 The Spleen 6410.3 Species Variations 6410.3.1 Horse 6410.3.2 Ruminants 6610.3.3 Pig 6610.3.4 Carnivore 6610.3.5 Whale 6610.4 Clinical Conditions Affecting the Lymphatic System 6611 The Nerves of the Abdomen and Pelvis 6911.1 General Somatic Afferent Neurons 6911.2 General Visceral Afferent Neurons 6911.3 General Somatic Efferent Neurons 7011.4 General Visceral Efferent Neurons 7011.4.1 Sympathetic motor pathways 7011.4.2 The prevertebral ganglia 7311.4.3 Sympathetic transmitter substances 7411.4.4 Pain pathways from the abdominal viscera 7411.4.5 Parasympathetic motor pathways 7411.5 Clinical Conditions 7511.6 Regional Anaesthesia 7711.6.1 Paravertebral anaesthesia 7711.6.2 Pudendal nerve block 7712 The Kidneys 7912.1 Nitrogenous Excretion 7912.2 Gross Anatomy of the Kidneys 8012.3 Species Variations 8112.3.1 Horse 8112.3.2 Ox 8212.3.3 Sheep 8212.3.4 Pig 8212.3.5 Dog/cat 8212.4 Clinical Conditions of the Kidneys of the Domestic Mammals 8212.5 Urinary Bladder and Urethra 8312.6 Adrenal Gland 8312.6.1 The blood supply of the adrenal gland 8413 The Ovaries and Ovarian Bursae 8513.1 The Ovary 8513.2 Species Variations 8613.2.1 Mare 8613.2.2 Cow 8713.2.3 Ewe 8713.2.4 Sow 8713.2.5 Bitch 8713.2.6 Queen 8813.3 The Ovarian Bursa 8813.4 The Uterine Tube, also called the Fallopian Tube or the Oviduct 8814 The Uterus, Uterine Tube, Vestibule and Vagina 8914.1 The Uterine Cornu 8914.1.1 Species variations 8914.2 The Body of the Uterus 9214.3 The Pregnant Uterus 9314.3.1 Species variations 9314.4 Placentation 9414.4.1 The foetal membranes 9514.5 The Cervix Uteri 9514.5.1 Species variations 9514.6 The Vagina 9614.7 The Vestibule 9714.7.1 Species variations 9814.8 Clinical Conditions 9915 The Mammalian Penis 10115.1 The Penis 10115.2 Erectile Tissue 10115.2.1 Corpus spongiosum penis 10115.2.2 Corpus cavernosum penis 10215.3 The Muscles of the Penis 10215.3.1 Retractor penis muscle 10215.3.2 Ischiocavernosus muscle 10215.3.3 Bulbospongiosus muscle 10215.4 The Blood Supply and Venous Drainage of the Penis 10315.5 Species Variations of the Penis 10315.5.1 Horse 10315.5.2 Ox 10415.5.3 Sheep 10515.5.4 Pig 10715.5.5 Dog 10915.5.6 Cat 11015.6 The Prepuce 11015.6.1 The muscles of the prepuce 11115.6.2 The blood supply of the prepuce 11115.6.3 Species variations of the prepuce 11116 The Testes 11316.1 The Anatomy of the Testes 11316.2 Species Variations 11316.3 The Scrotum 11316.4 The Tissue Layers of the Testes and Scrotum 11516.5 The Blood Supply and Drainage of the Testes 11716.6 The Epididymis 11816.7 Species Variations 11816.7.1 Horse 11816.7.2 Ruminant 11816.7.3 Pig 11816.7.4 Dog 11816.8 The Descent of the Testes 11816.9 Induction of Testicular Descent 12117 The Accessory Sex Glands 12317.1 The Accessory Glands 12317.2 Prostate Gland 12317.2.1 Species variations 12317.3 Vesicular Glands 12417.3.1 Species variations 12417.4 Ampulla of the Ductus Deferens 12517.5 Bulbourethral Glands 12517.6 Clinical Conditions of the Accessory Glands 12517.7 Anal Glands 12518 Diagnostic Imaging of the Abdomen 12718.1 Radiographic Anatomy 12718.2 Specific Organs 12818.2.1 The stomach 12818.2.2 The spleen 12918.2.3 The liver 12918.2.4 The intestines 12918.2.5 The kidneys 13018.2.6 Urinary bladder 13218.2.7 Urethra and prostate gland 13218.3 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 13218.4 Computed Tomography 13318.5 Ultrasonography 13318.6 Diagnostic Imaging in Equine Patients 13518.7 Diagnostic Imaging in Farm Animals 13718.8 Laparoscopy in Dogs and Cats 139Appendix 141Bibliography 147Index 149