Guttural pouches are paired extensions of the eustachian tubes that connect the pharynx to the middle ear. They are found in perissodactyls, such as
Do donkeys have guttural pouches?
The guttural pouches of the donkey are a pair of pouches located dorsoposteriorly to the posterior pharynx. The pouches have a close contact rostrally with the sphenoid bone, ventrally with the pharynx and esophagus, and caudally with the atlantoaxial joint.
Do humans have a guttural pouch?
Structure. The guttural pouches are located behind the cranial cavity, caudally the skull and below the wings of the atlas (C1). They are enclosed by the parotid and mandibular salivary glands, and the pterygoid muscles.
Why do horses have guttural pouches?
The guttural pouch is a structure found only in equine species. It is an outpouching of the Eustachian tube, the tube that connects the ears to the nose and mouth and helps to regulate air pressure.
What is guttural pouch in equine?
The guttural pouches are unique to a small number of animal species, including the horse. They are sacs of air that expand from the Eustachian tube, with one on each side of the horse’s head. They are positioned beneath the ear and each guttural pouch cavity in an adult horse can hold as much as a coffee mug.
What causes a horses tongue to swell?
Actinobacillus lignieresii primarily causes large abscesses of the tongue, a condition often called wooden tongue. The tongue becomes hard and swollen, leading to drooling and difficulty eating. This infection occurs most frequently in cattle, but is also seen in horses.