Morphological aspects of the liver of the marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)

Abstract

The macroscopic description of the liver of the Marsh Deer was performed for comparison with other ruminant species' liver, giving emphasis to the form, location, setting agents, disposition and lobation. AnimaIs from the "Marsh Deer Project' held in Porto Primavera (São Paulo, Brazil) were used, after their deaths during the quarantine period. The morphology of the liver was given by visual analysis and further dissection. It was verified that the liver of the Marsh Deer is located in the cranial portion of the abdominal cavity in the right side, presenting a brow-reddish color and two surfaces, four borders, four lobes and five ligaments. The main characteristic that differs the liver of the Marsh Deer from the other ruminant livers is the absence of gallbladder.