Aspects Concerning the Morphology and Topography of the Lymph nodes in Pelvic Limb in Swine

The lymphatic system consists of lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels and lymph. In this current clinical examination, only lymph nodes are examined. The lymphatic vessels are examined only in pathological cases and the lymph is not a normal subject for an examination (the harvesting is very difficult). In swine, the examination of lymph nodes is difficult (sometimes possible ­ only for weak pigs) because of the subcutaneous fat. The most important figures are offered, in this situation, by the lymph nodes examination in necropsy exam or from the animal after slaughtering it. The studies accomplished in this work have the purpose to offer, to whom it may concern, useful information about the morphology and the topography of muscular lymph nodes for the pelvic limb in swine, taking into account the fact that for the veterinary control of the meat we have to include the veterinary examination, before slaughter. The study material was represented by pieces that came from 4 swine individuals with an average weight of 40kg. The most used method was dissection, executed bilaterally and in successive plans to the limit of visibility, using the Nikon SMZ 2T stereomicroscope, that the Domestic Animal Anatomy Laboratory is equipped with. There were identified the relations between the lymph nodes and the blood vessels and were taken notes about individual variations. The lymph nodes of the pelvic limb in swine are consistently represented by: iliofemoral, scrotal or mammary, sub iliac, ischial, gluteus and superficial popliteal. Besides the fact that, generally, the accessory lymph nodes are missing, yet they are found in 50% of cases into the deep popliteal lymph node, located in the gap between gluteus biceps and semitendinosus, embedded into the fat tissue.