DIGESTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS OF CAT

1. Oral Cavity and Pharynx

a.
Salivary Glands
o
Parotid Gland located ventrad and craniad of the base of
the pinna of the ear, just under the skin

Its duct passes across the external surface of the

masseter muscle and penetrates the upper lip.

The opening of the duct may be sought for on the

inside of the cheek opposite the last cusp of the third
upper premolar, which is situated on a slight ridge.
o
Submaxillary Gland roundish mass at the angle of the jaw
near the posterior margin of the masseter

The duct is springs from the internal surface.

o
Sublingual Gland Elongated gland that surrounds the
beginning of the submaxillary duct

The duct is found to pass internal to the digastric

muscle.
o
Molar Gland situated between the skin and the external
surface of the mandible, just in front of the masseter muscle
(cat only)
o
Infraorbital Gland lies on the floor of the orbit
b.
Oral Cavity
o
Vestibule of the mouth part of the oral cavity lying
between the teeth and lips
o
Hard Palate anterior portion of the roof of the oral cavity
and is supported by premaxillary, maxillary, and palatine
bones

Openings of the Nasopalatine Ducts connects the

mouth and nasal cavities by the way of the incisive
foramina of the maxillary bones
o
Soft Palate posterior portion of the roof of the oral cavity
which lacks bone support
o
Tongue fleshy muscular organ formed by the fusion of four
components and has a more complicated intrinsic and
extrinsic musculature than the tongue of lower vertebrates

Filiform Papillae anterior part of the tongue which are

hard and spinelike

Fungiform Papillae remainder of the tongue

Vallate Papillae among the fungiform papillae

arranged in a V-shaped row, each consisting of a round
elevation set into a pit (4-6 vallate papillaes)

Frenulum vertical fold at the anterior margin of the

attachment of the tongue to the floor of the oral cavity
c.
Pharynx
o
Pharynx portion of the cavity lying posterior and dorsal to
the soft palate
o
Isthmus of the Fauces opening formed by the free border
of the palate
o
Tonsillar Fossa a pit located anterior to the free border of
the palate which contains a small mass of lymphoid tissue,
the palatine tonsil

Glossopalatine Arch anterior low fold that bounds

the front of the tonsillar fossa

Pharyngopalatine Arch posterior low fold that

bounds the front of the tonsillar fossa
o
Nasopharynx part of the pharynx dorsal to the soft palate

Posterior Nares or Choanae (2) internal ends of

the nasal passages located at the anterior end of the
nasopharynx

Auditory or Eustachian Tubes cannals which

connect the pharynx with the cavity of the middle ear
o
Esophagus posterior narrow of the pharynx; opening which
proceeds posteriorly dorsal to the larynx
o
Epiglottis projecting process that guards the esophagus
2. Hyoid Apparatus, Larynx, Trachea, and Esophagus

Hyoid narrow bone located at the external surface of the base of a

bone of the lower jaw that is derived from the second and third gill
arches

Anterior Horn long and slender and consists of a chain of four

bony pieces, the last of which articulates with the tympanic bulla

Posterior Horn short and is united to the larynx

Larynx chamber of cartilaginous walls in the median ventral line

posterior to the body of the hyoid and constitutes the projection in the
throat popularly known as Adams apple; (aka voice box)

Glottis large opening at the top of the larynx from whose

ventral margin the epiglottis projects

Thyroid Cartilage large shield-shaped cartilage that supports

the ventral wall of the larynx

Cricoid Cartilage forms a ring around the larynx which is

posterior to the thyroid cartilage

Arytenoids pair of projecting cartilages that supports the

opening of the esophagus

True Vocal Cords pair of folds that extends from the arytenoid
cartilages to the thyroid cartilage

False Vocal Cords situated lateral to the true vocal cords and
extends from the tips of the arytenoid cartilages to the base of
the epiglottis

Thyroid Gland flattened, elongated body that lies against the

trachea and internal to the muscles on each side of the trachea

Isthmus connects the two lobes of the thyroid gland which crosses
the ventral side of the trachea

3. Pleural and Pericardial Cavities

A.
Thoracic Region4
a.
Two Pleural Cavities

Mediastinal Septum partition from the heart to the

ventral median line and consists of two medial walls of the
right and left pleural sacs in contact with each other

Mediastinum space between the two walls of the

mediastinal septum

Diaphragm muscular dome-shaped partition that forms

the posterior wall of the pleural sac

Pleura smooth moist membrane that lines the pleural sac

Parietal Pleura lines the inside of the pleural cavity

and covers the anterior face of the diaphragm; together
with the medial wall of the other pleural sac forms the
mediastinal septum

Visceral Pleura part of pleura which passes over the

surface of the lung which it is indistinguishably fused
o
Left Lung - divided into three lobes and is composed
of innumerable minute air cells called alveoli

Anterior Lobe smaller

Middle Lobe larger

Posterior Lobe - large

o
Right Lung somewhat larger than the left lung

Anterior Lobe

Middle Lobe

Posterior Lobe

Medial Lobule - projects into a pocket

formed by a special, dorsally directed fold
(caval fold that supports the postcaval vein
which ascends from the liver to the heart) of
the mediastinal septum

Lateral Lobule

Pericardial Cavity narrow space between pericardial sac

and heart

Heart
o
Visceral Pericardium thin membrane that invests
the heart; continuous with the pericardial sac at the
anterior end, where the blood vessels enter and leave
the heart
o
Parietal Pericardium separated from the heart by
the pericardial cavity

Thymus mass of gland tissue found in the medial line

ventral to the anterior part of the heart and extending
forward

Dorsal Aorta a very large vessel injected with a

colored solution which arches away from the heart to the
left and descends toward the diaphragm
4. Peritoneal Cavity
o
Urinary Bladder pear-shaped organ generally distended with
fluid located at the posterior end of the peritoneal cavity; sac
occupying the posterior end of the peritoneal cavity, immediately
internal to the body wall and ventral o the large intestine

Median Ligament extends to the median ventral line; (also

known as median umbilical fold of human anatomy)

Lateral Ligament slightly developed ligament on each side

of the bladder
o
Peritoneum lines the peritoneal cavity

Parietal Peritoneum portion of the membrane on the inside

of body wall

Visceral Peritoneum covers the surface of the viscera

o
Stomach and Spleen attached to the left border of the liver lobes

Cardia area of junction of the stomach and esophagus

Cardiac End of the Stomach region of the stomach

adjacent to the junction

Lesser Curvature concave anterior surface of the stomach

from the cardia to the pylorus

Greater Curvature larger, convex posterior surface

Fundus saclike bulge of the stomach to the left of the cardia;

the remainder is called the body

Rugae marked ridges in the wall of the stomach

Pyloric Valve thickened ridge at the pylorus

o
Spleen large organ that lies in the left side of the stomach
o
Messenteries and Ligaments

Greater Omentum thin membrane impregnated with streaks

of fat that ventrally covers the intestine

Mesogaster extends from the dorsal wall to the stomach

Gastrosplenic Ligament portion of the great omentum

between the spleen and the stomach

Gastrocolic Ligament secondary fusion formed between the

mesogaster and the mesentery of the intestine

Falciform Ligament a thin sheet with a concave posterior

border which extends from between the two median lobes of
the liver to the median ventral line

Coronary Ligament a stout ligament which attaches the

liver to the central tendon of the diaphragm

Mesoduodenum part of the dorsal mesentery that supports

the duodenum

Duodenorenal Ligament mesentery fold attached to the

right kidney

Mesocolon mesentery of the colon

Pancreas a pinkish gland which extends to the left into the dorsal
of the greater omentum, dorsal to the greater curvature of the
stomach; it is located in the mesoduodenum

Pancreatic Duct joins the common bile duct at the point

where the latter enters the duodenum

Ampulla of Vater slightly swollen chamber where bile and

pancreatic ducts unite

Accessory Pancreatic Duct enters the duodenum about

three-quarters of an inch cauded of the principal duct
Small Intestine

Duodenum first portion of the small intestine

Jejunum portion beyond the duodenum of the small intestine

Ileum remainder of the small intestine

Ileocolic Valve an elevation projecting into the ileum

Villi finger-like projections inside the small intestine

Caecum junction of a small and large intestine
Large Intestine also called as the colon

Ascending Colon

Transverse Colon

Descending Colon
Rectum terminal portion of the descending colon
Peyers Patches occur as oval light-colored spots along the colon

o
o

o
o

o
o

3.

Male Reproductive System

o
Scrotum it is where the two testes are lodged which are
divided into two compartments by the internal partition
o
Spermatic Cord contains a white duct, the ductus
deferens and blood vessels and nerves; it also passes
forward and enters the peritoneal cavity through a canal,
the inguinal canal

External and Internal Inguinal Rings the two

ends of the canal
o
Prostate Gland slight enlargement that surrounds the
urethra that is joined by two deferent ducts
o
Bulbourethral Glands or Cowpers Glands small
swellings situated on the urogenital canal about an inch
posterior to the prostate gland in the cat
o
Glans pointed projections of the prepuce (fold of skin
around the glans)
o
Urogenital Opening tip of the glans
o
Corpora Cavernosa or Cavernous Bodies spongy
structures and in the sexual act become distended with
blood, so that the penis is caused to project out of its
sheath, the prepuce
o
Carvernous Urethra the urogenital canal that lies on
the dorsal side of the penis, resting in a depression
between the two cavernous bodies
o
Crura of the Penis formed by diverged two cavernous
bodies and is attached to the ischia
o
Testis enclosed in a white fibrous sac, which is the
peritoneal pouch made by the descent of the testis
o
Vaginal Sac or Cavity where testes lies

Tunica Vaginalis lines the cavity and is reflected

over the surface of the testis as a covering layer
o
Gubernaculum short, stout ligament that attaches the
posterior scrotum wall to the posterior end of the testis; it
is continuous with the mesorchium and homologous to the
round ligament of the uterus
o
Ductus Deferens lies along the dorsal surface of the
testis much coiled, forming the epididymal duct
o
Epididymis

Head receives the invisible efferent ductules from

the testis

Body coiled epididymal duct that passes

Tail coiled mass at the posterior end of the testis to

which the gubernaculum is attached

4.

Accessory Sex Glands

o
Ampullary Glands found in the wall of the widened
terminal part of the ducti deferentes (rabbit)
o
Vesicular Glands single or paired sacciform or tubular
evaginations, often of large size, from the deferent ducts at
their junction with the urethra (aka seminal vesicles
lacking in cat)
o
Prostate Glands bunches of tubular glands at the
beginning of the urogenital canal
o
Urethral Glands glandular differentiation in the wall of
the proximal part of the urogenital canal
o
Skin Glands found around sexual and anal orifices

Preputial Glands invaginated from the skin of the

prepuce

Anal Glands or Sacs opening alongside the anus

Inguinal Glands

UROGENITAL SYSTEM OF CAT

1.

Kidneys and Their Ducts

o
Kidneys large oval organs situated against the dorsal
wall of the peritoneal cavity; they are retroperitoneal
(metanephroi and their ducts are metanephric ducts or
ureters)

Right kidney usually considerably anterior to the

left

Ureter white tube from kidney passing dorsal to the

horns of the uterus (female); dorsal to white cord,
ductus deferens which loops over the ureter &
disappears dorsal to the bladder (male)

Hilus concavity

Renal Sinus cavity occupied by the renal artery and

vein

Renal Pelvis expanded beginning of the ureter

Renal Papilla substance kidney projections which

situates the microscopic openings of the collecting
tubules

Cortex peripheral kidney substance which contains

the renal corpuscles and the convoluted and lopped
portions of the kidney tubules

Medulla central kidney substance marked by lines

which converge to the renal papilla (lines are called
collecting tubules)

Renal Pyramid formed by collecting tubules and

renal papilla (one in cat and twelve in humans)
o
Urinary Bladder pear-shaped sac at the posterior end of
the peritoneal cavity (ventral to the rectum in male; ventral
to both rectum and uterus in female)

Apex or Vertex free anterior end of the bladder

Fundus posterior portion of the bladder

Urethra narrowed stalk continuous with the fundus

Retrovesical Pouch between the bladder and

rectum (male)

Vesicouterine Pouch between the bladder and

uterus (female)

2.

Female Reproductive System

o
Ovaries very small oval bodies located at the sides of the
peritoneal cavity at the anterior end of the coils of the
uterus

Graafian Follicles little clear vesicles that ovaries

bear

Corpora Lutea little hard lumps that represent

follicles from which the eggs of the pregnancy were
discharged

Mesovarioum extends forward to the kidney and is

continuous posteriorly with the ligaments of the uterus

Millerian Ducts or Oviducts ducts of the ovaries

Mesosalpinx mesentery of oviduct that forms a sort

of hood

Uterine or Fallopian Tube opens in the lateral side

of the ovary by the ostium having fringed borders, the
fimbriae

Horn of the Uterus thick-walled tube of the

posterior portion of the uterus

Mesometrium strong fold of peritoneum supporting

the uteri or horns

Broad Ligament of the Uterus mesovarium,

mesosalpinx and mesometrium

Round Ligament of the Uterus fold extending

from the beginning of the uterus or horn posteriorly to
the body wall; it is continuous with, but at right angles
to, the broad ligament
o
Uterus or Womb constituted by the body and horns of
the uterus (THE UTERUS IS OF THE BIPARTITE TYPE.)

Body of the Uterus singe tube where two horns of

the uterus unite in the median line; it is dorsal to the
bladder (THE BODY OF THE UTERUS IS DIVIDED INTO
LATERAL HALVES BY A MEDIAN PARTITION, AND THE
HORNS OPEN TO EITHER SIDE OF THIS PARTITIONS.)

Cervix the lower end of the uterus which projects

into the vagina by a fold
Vagina continuous with the uterus; it is a tube situated in
the median line between the bladder and the rectum and
exits through the ring formed by the pelvic girdle and
vertebral column
Clitoris its anterior end is attached by ligaments to the
ischium and pubic symphysis; hardened body beneath the
skin in the median line and is homologous to the penis of
the male

Cavernous Bodies composes the clitoris

Urogenital Canal or Urogenital Sinus it is where the
urethra and the vagina unite
Anal Glands or Sacs rounded sacs that occur to either
side of the rectum close to the anus; the secretions of the
anal glands are strongly odoriferous

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM OF THE CAT

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Chambers of the Heart

o
Ventricle (2) constitutes a firm thick-walled cone, having a
posterior pointerd apex and a broad anterior bases
Hepatic Portal System
Systemic Veins
Pulmonary Veins
Pulmonary Artery

6.
7.

Aorta and Its Branches

Posterior Portion of the Postcaval Vein

8.

Structure of the Heart