VASCULARIZATION OF THE MOOSE BELL

• Main Authors: Timmermann, H. R., Lankester, M. W., Bubenik, A. B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 1988
• Subjects: Alces alces
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/1251

The vascularization of the moose (Alces alces) bell was examined by gross dissection following injection of vinyl acetate into the arterial and venous systems and by radiological photography. In a total of 28 heads, the bell artery originated from the left lingual artery in 15 (10 males, 5 females) and from the right in 13 (8 males, 5 females). The bell artery runs distally giving off a major branch to the dewlap and continues into the tail portion of the bell. The bell vein (3-5 mm lumen diam.) originates in a capillary bed in the distal portion of the bell and run proximally, adjacent to the bell artery. It receives one or two major branches from the dewlap and joins either the right or left jugular vein in the lower neck. We suggest that a change in bell shape results from a portion being lost by freezing due to limited vascularization in the bell tail.