Page 562 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Necropsy guidelines 499

omentum, falciform ligament and within the Things to note
retroperitoneal space surrounding the kidneys.
4 Splitting a long bone (usually the femur) and • Amount and colour of skeletal muscle.
examination and subjective assessment of fat • Amount and colour of subcutaneous fat.
content of the bone marrow. This is the last • Is there any fluid within the subcutaneous
fat store to be used and if depleted is con- tissues? What is the colour and consistency
sistent with severe emaciation. Objective of the fluid?
measurement of marrow fat is relatively easy • Is there any evidence of petechial (less than
and can be performed by taking a 10–20 g 2 mm diameter), purpural (2–20 mm in
piece of bone marrow which should be diameter) or ecchymotic (greater than 20 mm
weighed and the weight noted. The marrow diameter) in the skin, subcutis or muscles?
should be placed in a covered container and
allowed to desiccate in room air over a period Sampling
of days. Weight should be measured every Formalin:
day until several days of no reduction in mass
are noted. Marrow fat is then calculated as a • Any lesions in skin, subcutis or skeletal mus-
percentage of dry weight/wet weight.
cle.
• A section of skeletal muscle.
• Subcutaneous lymph node (axillary or pre-
4 reflect limbs and skin the body
scapular nodes are usually encountered
during forelimb dissection).
Note that when cutting through skin avoid cut- • Sciatic nerve: it is advisable to collect a
ting on the skin surface more than necessary. peripheral nerve and the sciatic nerve is easy
Body hair is very hard and will rapidly blunt the to find underneath the caudal thigh muscles
knife. Instead make a stab incision through the running along the caudal border of the femur.
skin and cut on the underside of the skin.
The nerve is broad, tan-white and soft to firm.
A 2–3 cm long section is sufficient.
• Make a stab incision in the right axilla and
continue to cut through the subcutaneous tis-
sues and skeletal muscle of the thoracic girdle 5 open abdomen
until the limb can be reflected over the back
of the animal. • Taking care not to puncture the abdominal
• Make a stab incision in the inguinal region. viscera cut through abdominal musculature
Cut through the subcutaneous tissue and around the curve of the last rib from the
skeletal muscle to locate the coxofemoral xiphoid process of the sternum to the lateral
(hip) joint. Incise the joint capsule and cut spinous process of the first lumbar vertebra.
through the ligament of the head of the femur • Continue the incision just ventral to the lum-
so the limb can be reflected. bar muscles and around the wing of the ileum
• Incise the skin along the ventral midline to the pubis.
from the mandibular symphysis (chin) to the • This will form a triangular flap of abdominal
pubis. wall which can be reflected ventrally.
• Skin back the skin overlying the right half of • Opening the abdomen in this way will allow
the animal from the ventral midline to the for the identification of any fluid which may
level of the lateral spinous processes. be present without allowing it to spill out.

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