Morphometric Analysis of the Skull in the Holstein Cow: A Computed Tomography Study

Authors : Nimet Turgut

Pages : 61-74

View : 58 | Download : 47

Publication Date : 2025-03-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Most craniometric studies have been conducted on dry skulls. This study aims to identify the craniometric characteristics of the skull in Holstein cows using Computed Tomography (CT) imaging. Fourteen Holstein cow heads were utilized, scanned via CT, and images were processed with the DICOM Viewer software program. Seventeen craniometric measurements (13 extracranial, 4 intracranial) were obtained through the program\\\'s multiplanar reconstruction tool, and 14 indexes were calculated based on these morphometric data. In Holstein cow, total length was 519.4 ±21.7 mm, basal length was 472.1 ±22.2 mm, viscerocranium length was 288.4 ±17.4 mm. Further, the greatest frontal breadth was 225.4±8.5 mm, while the length of the cranial cavity1, length of the cranial cavity2, maximum width, and maximum height of the cranial cavity were 140.5 ±6.4, 116.8 ±4.3, 103.3 ±4.4 and 96.6 ±4.7 mm, respectively. Skull index was 43.4±1.3, facial index was 78.3±3.7, basal index was 47.8±1.8, foramen magnum index was 83.1 ±3.2, cranial cavity index1 was 73.6 ±4.6, and length-width index1 was found to be 136.3 ±8.1. This study provides initial reference data on the morphometric properties of the Holstein cow skull, derived through a reproducible measurement protocol. These findings offer valuable insights for veterinary anatomists, radiologists, clinicians, and researchers in terms of both the data and methodology presented. Craniometric data may assist in diagnosing head region pathologies, pre-surgical planning (such as trepanation, dehorning, and facial surgery), and in applications of regional anesthesia. Additionally, these findings have potential future applications in assessing skull morphology changes related to breed and gender, and in correlating skull dimensions with meat and milk production data.
Keywords : Sığır, Sefalometri, Craniyoloji