A Macroanatomic and Subgross Study on the Cloaca of Native Ducks by Using Alkyd Resin

Abstract: In this study, the location, neighbours, macroscopic and subgross structures of cloaca were determined by using alkyd resin in six animals (from both genders). For this purpose, the cloaca and intestine of ducks were processed by fixation, washing, alcohol and acetone series, embedding in glycerol, impregnation in alkyd resin containing varnish and thinner solutions, and drying procedures, respectively following the anaesthesia. Cloaca and its structures were examined by dissecting microscope and presented in images. It was found that the cloaca, as the expansion of rectum, neighboured to the jejunum, duodenum, cecum and bursa fabricii, and formed by the sections of coprodeum, urodeum and proctodeum. There were three plicae between these sections that were the rectocoprodeal, coprourodeal and uroproctodeal ones (from front to back), respectively. The ureters and seminal ducts of males opened into the urodeum, while the bursa cloaca opened into the proctodeum.