The structure of the rostral epidural rete mirabile and caudal epidural rete mirabile of the domestic pig.

Background: The rostral epidural rete mirabile in the domestic pig has been studied by many scientists; however, the caudal epidural rete mirabile has been poorly understood and is rarely mentioned in the literature in domestic pig species. Based on the role of the rostral epidural rete mirabile in retrograde transfer of neurotransmitters and its localisation and structure, we hypothesize that the caudal rete may also play an important role in this process.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted on 80 domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) of the Suidae family, including 60 piglets aged 0-20 days and 20 adult animals aged 5-9 months.

Results: The rostral epidural rete mirabile is an even well-developed structure consisting of dozens of anastomosing arterioles embedded in the cavernous sinus, formed by the maxillary and external ocular artery branches, which are extensions of the external carotid artery, and a thick branch to the rostral epidural rete mirabile. However, the caudal epidural rete mirabile is a structure made up of several interlacing arterioles consisting of the vertebral, condylar and occipital arteries on the caudal side, while on the rostral side it is made up of the middle meningeal artery branching off the inner surface of the temporal bone.

Conclusions: The whole caudal epidural rete mirabile is embedded in the basilar and occipital sinuses, which led us to hypothesise that in these sinuses a retrograde transfer of neurotransmitters may take place analogous to the rostral epidural rete mirabile.