Histoanatomical study of larynx of Camelus dromedarius

In this study¡ 10 samples of the larynx of Camelus dromedarius were evaluated anatomically and histologically. The usual anatomical and histological (H&E and Verhoeff staining methods) were used. For detecting the internal form of larynx¡ plaster casts were prepared. This study demonstrated that the mean length and width of epiglottis and thyroid cartilages were 8.21 ± 0.28¡ 4.59 ± 0.34 cm¡ 6.53 ± 0.28 and ­6.99 ± 0.15­cm¡ respectively. The average length of dorsal and ventral part of cricoid cartilage was 6.06 ± 0.17 and 4.58 ± 0.25 cm. The mean length of T head and T handle in arytenoid cartilage was 3.58 ± 0.11 and 3.35 ± 0.05 cm¡ respectively. In addition¡ the average length and width of corniculate cartilage was 3.52­ ±­0.03 and 1.73 ± 0.04 cm. In this animal¡ the epiglottis cartilage was long and pointed. Laryngeal prominence in thyroid cartilage was absent. The cuneiform cartilage is very thin and located in the base and sides of epiglottis. Contrary to other animals¡ the cricoid cartilage of this animal in both dorsal and ventral parts was very thick. Moreover¡ the vocal and vestibular folds with lateral laryngeal ventricle were present. The histological study showed that epiglottis¡ corniculate¡ apex of cuneiform and arytenoid cartilages are made of elastic cartilage and the other cartilages such as thyroid¡ cricoid and the base of cuneiform cartilages are made of hyaline cartilage. The epithelial tissue of all parts of larynx was stratified squamous nonkeratinized except the cricoid cartilage which had ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium.