title: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anatomy of the ovine stifle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anatomy of the ovine stifle and investigate meniscotibial and cruciate ligaments anatomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive ex vivo study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pelvic limbs (n = 44) from 22 adult Texel ewes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty limbs (n = 40) were scanned using 3 Tesla MRI before gross anatomic dissection. Two other limb pairs were frozen and transected to obtain sections that were compared with MRI images for identification of anatomic structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all stifles, the craniomedial bundle of the cranial cruciate ligament inserted caudally to the cranial attachment of the medial meniscus. No transverse intermeniscal ligament was identified in 80% of stifles, whereas a few small ligamentous fibers were seen crossing from 1 cranial horn to the other in 20% of stifles. There was good differentiation of menisci, ligaments, and synovial cavities on MRI images. Two bundles were identified in all cranial cruciate ligaments on MRI. Sensitivity and specificity of 3T MRI for detection of transverse intermeniscal ligament were 42% and 84%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3T MRI provided well defined reference images for menisci, synovial cavities, and most ligaments.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Veterinary Research Unit (1VRU) - Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Faculty of Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium. jean‐michel.vandeweerd@fundp.ac.be
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vandeweerd
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kirschvink
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muylkens
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cintas
authors.forename: Charles Vande
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Catsyne
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hontoir
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clegg
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coomer
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nisolle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013264:Stifle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*