<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Despite the obvious existence of guttural pouches in <italic>Equidae</italic>, the question of their function has not yet been adequately answered. We suggest a working hypothesis that the guttural pouches of horses may be an additional organ of gas exchange. Research on the topographical location of the guttural pouches of horses and on the micro-morphological structures of their walls were carried out. It appears possible that: the dense arrangement of the vascular system of the wall of the guttural pouches near the main cerebral vessels; the constant moistening of the inner surface of the wall of the guttural pouches; and the air circulation in it; strongly suggests that the guttural pouches of horses may serve as an additional organ of gas exchange. The guttural pouches becomes very useful, particularly during prolonged periods of intense physical activity.</p></abstract>

Despite the obvious existence of guttural pouches in Equidae, the question of their function has not yet been adequately answered. We suggest a working hypothesis that the guttural pouches of horses may be an additional organ of gas exchange. Research on the topographical location of the guttural pouches of horses and on the micro-morphological structures of their walls were carried out. It appears possible that: the dense arrangement of the vascular system of the wall of the guttural pouches near the main cerebral vessels; the constant moistening of the inner surface of the wall of the guttural pouches; and the air circulation in it; strongly suggests that the guttural pouches of horses may serve as an additional organ of gas exchange. The guttural pouches becomes very useful, particularly during prolonged periods of intense physical activity.

Potential Role of Guttural Pouches in Gas Exchange

Department of Evolutionary Morphology, Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv,

Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv,

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice,

Folia Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Potential Role of Guttural Pouches in Gas Exchange"}

Despite the obvious existence of guttural pouches in Equidae, the question of their function has not yet been adequately answered. We suggest a working...

Potential Role of Guttural Pouches in Gas Exchange

Published Online: Apr 04, 2017

Page range: 66 - 72

Received: Dec 16, 2016

Accepted: Feb 15, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fv-2017-0010

Keywords
gas exchange, guttural pouch, histological structure, horse, vascularization

© 2017 Kovalyova I. M. et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Potential Role of Guttural Pouches in Gas Exchange

Published Online: Apr 04, 2017

Page range: 66 - 72

Received: Dec 16, 2016

Accepted: Feb 15, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fv-2017-0010

Keywordsgas exchange, guttural pouch, histological structure, horse, vascularization

© 2017 Kovalyova I. M. et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
gas exchange, guttural pouch, histological structure, horse, vascularization