Anatomical Studies on the Arterial Blood Supply of the Pelvic Limb of Geese

The present study was conducted on 25 adults, healthy Egyptian native breed of geese. The arteries of the pelvic limb were demonstrated by injection of colored gum milk latex and treated by the ordinary method of preservation. The arterial vascularization of the pelvic limb was mainly obtained from the external iliac and ischiatic arteries. The external iliac artery supplies the pelvic limb to the level of the knee joint, while the ischiatic artery is responsible for supplying the entire limb, changing its name according to the region of the limb it supplies. The ischiatic artery terminates after giving off the sural artery and continues in the leg region as the popliteal artery. The branches of the popliteal artery supply the knee and leg regions; whereas the cranial tibial artery, the continuation of the popliteal artery, supplies the foot with its own branches. The presence of extensive arterio-venous anastomosis (rete tibio tarsale) was shown to clarify means of thermoregulation in limbs. The aim of the present work is to highlight the accurate angio-architecture of the pelvic limb which is pivotal for surgical interference in cases of joints, limb and foot affections in water birds