ANATOMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDY IN THE UDDER OF LOCAL IRAQI CATTLE (Bovidae caprinae )

The appearance of the udder varies greatly depending on maturity and functionstatus as well as on individual and breed characteristic sometimes weighing as much as60 Kg in many dairy cows it is extremely large in particular the size, shape and positionof the teats do have a practical importance in determining the suitability of the udder tohand or machine milking , five udder of cattle were taken , aged between (2-5) yearsfrom a local slaughterhouse , the skin was removed , we examined and described theouter anatomy ,these sample were fixed in 10% formalin solution , and processed by theroutine histological technique then studies under light microscope .The udder consists of four separated glands suspended of medial and lateralcollagens lamina, the medial lamina is more elastic than lateral lamina, the medial laminaare more collagenous and originate from the sub pelvic tendon. The lateral lamina ismultiple, the teat is long and cylindrical in shape and the wall is thick.The anatomical study showed that the udder was divided into four identicalquarters with the four main nipples and the additional nipples sometimes associated withthe glandular tissue, the glandular tissue covered by connective tissue that extends insideand covers the whole gland and is described as the hanging system. It consists from themedial and the lateral ligaments, The aim of histological study of the udder in cattle tounderstand the comparative nomenclature and to know the surgical anatomy of thebovine teat , the layers of the wall ,the vascular patron , the distribution of smooth muscles , the annular fold , the vascular patron and the venous circle surrounding thebase of the teat to appreciate the protective function of the teat canal as well as thepattern of intra udder duct system were studies to obtain more details information aboutthe udder value in production of milk and healthy udder are essential to the secretion ofmilk that wholesome to drink and sufficient in quantity to be profitable to dairymen , Thesubstance of the udder consist of gland parenchyma and connective tissue intermingled inproportion that can sometimes be estimated by palpation through the skin, annular fold aconstriction between glandular and teat parts of the milk sinus, it consist of muscularfibers, connective tissue and circular venous channels (Furstenberg’s rosette) fold of teatcanal mucosa that extends into the teat sinus .