Comparative studies on the brainstem of some domestic animals : III-diencephalon [electronic resource].

Includes references.

In this work the main anatomical differences of the diencephalon as a part of the brainstem of donkey, sheep, pig, dog and cat were studied. The longest diencephalon to the total length of the brain and also to the brainstem was observed in dog (19.6%, 30.2% respectively) and the shortest was observed in pig (11.3%, 24.3%). The structures of the hypothalamus which forms the floor of the diencephalon showed species variation. It includes the pars optica hypothalami (optic nerve, optic chiasma and the optic tract), the hypophysis cerebri and the olfactovisceral correlated centers( mammillary body and the tuber cinereum). The optic nerve is rounded in cross section in donkey and pig. In sheep and dog it is in the form of broad flattened band. In cat it is variable along its length. The optic chiasma was of equal dimensions in donkey, longer in sheep and dog; broader in cat and pig. Grossly the hypophysis cerebri can be distinguished into two parts; ventral adenohypophysis (dark brown) and dorsal neurohypophysis( pale color).The adenohypophysis is flattened and circular in shape in donkey, cat and dog, thick and elongated in sheep and rounded with convex ventral surface in pig. The neurohypophysis forms the core of the gland.

Summary in Arabic.