Contribution to the aetiology of synovitis in chickens, with special reference to non-infective factor. III.
A comparative histological study of the tendon tissues of laying-breed hens and broiler-breed cocks was undertaken. This study was a continuation of a previous study which showed that the tendons of laying-breed hens are relatively more resistant to mechanical stress than are those of broiler-breed cocks. The study was particularly concerned with the following types of tendon tissue: tendon of the gastrocnemius muscle, tendon of the flexor muscle of the third digit, hypotarsal sesamoid (HS). The results may be summarized as follows: (1) The tendon tissues of the two main groups compared, differ structurally in several respects. The most marked differences are perceptible in the plantar layer of the tendons, some synovial membranes, the HS and the insertion of the gastrocnemius tendon. (2) The difference is susceptibility to synovitis as well as the difference in tensile strength can be accounted for by the above structural differences.(3) Tendon tissue is apparently infected by haematogenous route in the case of spontaneous synovitis.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000662:veterinary*; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology; D013718:Tensile Strength