Abstract:
Radiographic studies on the
fetal heads of 32 one
-humped camels (
Camelus dromedarius
) with 11 fetuses at the
first trimester, 12 at the second trimester and 9 at the third trimester levels were conducted in Sokoto Metropolis.
The study involved the radiographic evaluation of calvaria
of different fetuses at first, second and third trimester
stages of the gestational ages. Radiographic observations made in this study revealed that the onset of
mineralization was recognizable even at the first trimester stage through the radio
-opaque ap
pearances of the
calvaria appearing whiter on radiographs. This tendency however increased with increase in gestational age of the
fetuses showing that because of their highly calcified calvaria, the fetuses at the third trimester were more radio
-
opaque to
X-ray energy thus appearing whiter on the radiographs. Sutural demarcations were not clear on the
radiographs made in this study, but however, clear evidences of fontanels were seen as localised radio
-lucent
areas on the calvaria more especially at the fi
rst trimester stage. The findings in this research would help in
understanding the radiographical anatomy of the developing calvaria in this animal species.
