Anatomy & Physiology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Gross Anatomical Study of the Urogenital System of the Indigenous Nigerian Male Donkey (Equus africanus africanus) in Comparison with the Stallion

Mai HM

Urogenital systems of two adult male donkeys were studied and the findings compared to that of the stallion. The right kidney, urinary bladder, ureters, testes, epididymis, ductus deferens, accessory genital organs, penis and urethra were found to be similar in many aspects especially their shapes, locations and relationship with associated structures. Dimensions and weights of the urinary and genital organs determined were much smaller and lighter than those of their matches in the stallion. The dimensions of the accessory genital organs were however, close to that of the stallion with the exception of the seminal vesicles which decreases. Certain key differences were also noticed such as the shape of the left kidney of the donkey is heart- shaped with flat dorsal surface and attachment of lateral ligaments of urinary bladder extends to the apex. In addition, the arcuate vessels of the kidneys were fewer; the columnae uretericae, urethral crest and mucosal folds of the bladder were not well pronounced. Despite the fact that both the donkey and the horse belong to the same species of animals, differences exist in the anatomy of their urogenital systems.