Abstract
ABSTRACT. Abidu-figueiredo M., Machado-Santos C., Bath F.V. de C. & Chagas M.A. [Morphological aspects of ostrich larynx (Strutio camelus)]. Aspectos morfológicos da laringe do avestruz (Strutio camelus). Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 34(3):202-205, 2012. Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465 Km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23890- 000, Brasil. Email: marceloabidu@gmail.com The respiratory organs of birds differ from those of mammals in a number of specific features which are associated partly with the requirements of flight and the great work load that this form of locomotion demands, and partly with voice production. This study aimed at observing gross morphological and histological characteristics of the larynx in ostrich. Thirty ostrich’s heads of both sexes were used in this study. The larynx were removed and fixed in 10% formaldehyde and dissected for macroscopic examination. For the observation of histological characteristics, the larynx fragments were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Sections of 5µm thick were stained with haematoxylin / eosin and Picros Sirius red, and observed under polarizated light. The cartilaginous skeleton of the larynx consisted of the cricoid, procricoid and arytenoid cartilages any type of hyaline. However, the thyroid and epiglottic cartilages were absent.