Page 567 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

504 Samuel Sharpe

SaMPLE coLLEctIon • Presence of fluid or material including sta-
• Take a transverse section including mucosa ble foam, purulent or blood tinged exudate,
after bread loafing and place in formalin. or food material within the tracheal lumen
should be noted.
• The mucosa should be shiny, intact, and
Oesophagus
translucent. Mucosal defects, ulcers, vesicles,
• Using scissors and forceps open the oesopha- nodules, areas of congestion or haemorrhage
gus along its length. should be noted.

tHInGS to notE SaMPLInG
• The mucosa should be homogenously tan, • Take a 2 cm long section of opened trachea
slightly undulating, soft, with an intact, shiny into formalin.
surface. Mucosal defects, ulcers, vesicles, • Take a cross section of lymph node includ-
nodules, areas of congestion or haemorrhage ing the capsular surface, cortex, medulla and
or masses should be noted and sampled. hilus.
• The submucosa should be abundant and
loose. Masses, strictures or foreign bodies
should be noted. Thyroids and parathyroids
• The muscularis is comprised of soft to firm, • Thyroid and parathyroid anatomy varies quite
pale pink smooth muscle. Masses or foreign significantly between domestic species; an
bodies should be noted. anatomy text should be consulted if the pro-
sector is unfamiliar.
SaMPLInG • Thyroids and parathyroids should be carefully
• Place a 2 cm long, opened section of oesopha- dissected, examined and sampled.
gus in formalin.
tHInGS to notE
Thyroids
Larynx, trachea and mainstem
bronchi
• Thyroids are paired glands and left and right
• Inspect the laryngeal aditus comprising the thyroids should be of symmetrical and of
epiglottis, arytenoids and vocal folds. similar size and shape. Glands are diffusely
• Using scissors and forceps incise between the soft to firm, dark red-brown, with a smooth
arytenoids and bisect the dorsal part of the outer contour.
cricoid cartilage. Continue the incision down • Assessment of size and weight is subjective
the dorsal ligament of the trachea and on into as weight ranges for endocrine organs in vet-
the mainstem bronchi. erinary species are not available.
• Locate the bronchial lymph nodes adjacent • Bilateral increase in size may indicate goitre.
to the mainstem bronchi. Incise and examine Goitre occurs as a result of accumulation
the cut surface. of unconjugated colloid in thyroid follicles
which can occur secondary to iodine excess
tHInGS to notE or deficiency.
• Swelling of the laryngeal mucosa, masses or • Iodine deficiency can occur as a result of
foreign material which may have resulted in absolute dietary deficiency or secondary to
upper airway obstruction. ingestion of goitrogenic plants or chemicals

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