BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE ELBOW AND STIFLE REGION IN DOGS – A REVIEW

The spread of a large number of domestic and stray dogs in recent years has made them the main patients of veterinary surgeons. Compared to other domestic animals, there are a large number of breeds in the dog with significant differences in size, anatomy and physiology. Traumatic, pathological and degenerative processes of the limbs often occur, where most patients the elbow and stifle joint are affected. In many cases, surgical interventions, operations and even endoprosthesis of these joints are necessary, so the main arteries and veins that provide the blood supply are of great importance. In the elbow region rete articulare cubiti is formed from branches of a. brachialis, while in the knee region rete articulare genus and rete patellare are formed, from branches predominantly of a. poplitea. Deep venous blood vessels resemble arterial, while the superficial venous net is significantly different and variable in the areas studied. The blood vessels of the thoracic limb are drained in v. cephalica and the vessels coming from the pelvic limb in v. saphena medialis and v. saphena lateralis. After reviewing the current literature there is evidence for a detailed and comprehensive study of the arteries and veins involved in the blood supply of the elbow and knee joint in the dog, which will be a reasonable basis for future anatomical, histological and imaging diagnostic studies on the blood vessels.