title: Morphological investigations of the occipital area in adult American Staffordshire Terriers.
abstract: Morphological investigations into the occipital area were carried out on the skulls of 24 adult American Staffordshire Terriers. The dorsal notch was found in one skull. The normal height (h) and width (W) of the foramen magnum was measured, and the foramen magnum index was calculated. In the case of the presence of the dorsal notch, total height (H) and normal height (h) of foramen magnum were measured, and dorsal notch height (N) was estimated. The mean value of the foramen magnum index (FMIa = W/H × 100) was 82.7. The foramen magnum index with the exception of the skull with dorsal notch (FMIb = W/h × 100) was 77.89. The dysplasia index (ISD = N/h × 100) was 44.05. A radiographic evaluation was made according to the method introduced by Rusbridge. Occipital dysplasia is not a clinical problem itself but can provoke one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska, Wrocław, Poland. janeczekm@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janeczek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrószcz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czerski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology