Comparative morphological study of the male and female metacarpal and metatarsal bones of the dromedary camel with special reference to the blood vasculature.

Background: It is vital to understand the gross anatomy and dimensions of the metacarpal and metatarsal bones in camels in order for veterinarians to identify fraud cases between males and females by carefully distinguishing between them.

Aim: It is to make comparisons of the morphological characteristics and measurements of the metacarpus and metatarsus bones of male and female camels.

Methods: Forty metacarpus and metatarsus of adult camels of both sexes were collected from a typical Burydah slaughterhouse in KSA. The bones were treated according to the established methods of boiling, drying, and bleaching to study morphology. The measurement of the bones in this study has been taken by using digital vernier calipers.

Results: The metacarpus and metatarsus consisted of two large and two small bones. The large metacarpal and metatarsal bones consisted of fused III and IV. Except for the distal side in which the two bones diverge more from each other. The metacarpal bone is similar to the metatarsus, except that it is smaller in measurement majority. The small Mc-Mt II and Mc-Mt V were smaller and present on the palmo-lateral or planto-lateral aspect of the large bones, respectively. The length of the metacarpus and metatarsus is almost equal nearly in camels unlike the rest of the animals as well as the metacarpus bone was unlike the metatarsus in form and measurements generally.

Conclusion: The large metacarpus and metatarsus bones are distinguished by the fusion of the third and fourth bones along the length of the bone. Except for the distal side in which the two bones diverge more from each other like the rest of the animals. The morphologically characterized majority of the metacarpal bone was similar to the metatarsus, except that it was proximal extremity, cross-section, and measurement.