Gross and radiographic anatomy of the foetal lungs in goat

Abstract

The gross and radiographic anatomy of lungs was studied in 60 goat foetuses on 30-150 days of gestation. The lungs on 30 days of development, were in miniature form but grew around heart in the pleural cavity by day 50 of gestation. The right lung showed external demarcation into constituent lobes on 65 days of development, while the left lung a little late on day 70 of gestation. These resembled in shape and orientation to those of the adult goats in foetuses of 125-150 days age group. The cardiac notch of left lung was relatively shallow but wide (third to seventh rib) than that of the right one (third to fourth rib). The mean weight of each lung increased with advancement in age. The right lung weighed more than the left one in each age group. The percentage increase in weight of 2 lungs was directly proportional to the age of foetus. The bronchographic studies revealed an adult pattern of bronchial branches in foetuses of 95-l20 days age group and onward. The primordial branches corresponded in number and course to the external lobation of respective lungs.