Comparative Anatomy of the Domestic Cat and Selected Organs of the Sheep, Cow, & Pig

With Reference to the HumanKaren McMahon

Biological ScienceThe University of Tulsa

HAPS Institute - Using Cadavers to Teach A&P November 30, 2008

IntegumentarySystem

Cat SkinEpidermis

Hair Root

Dermis

Stratum Corneum

Human Skin, HeavilyPigmented

Epidermis

Dermis

Stratum Corneum

StratumBasale

Skeletal System

The premaxilla is a separate bone in the cat skull.

Premaxilla

Maxilla

Nasal

Maxilla

Nasal

The premaxilla is not present in the human skull.

Cats have a carnivorous dentition pattern.

Teeth in each half of the u. jaw/l. jaw:Incisors 3/3Canines 1/1Premolars 3/2Molars 1/1.The total # of teeth is 30.

Incisors Canine Premolar Molar

Humans have an omnivorous dentition pattern.

Teeth in each half of the upper jaw/lower jaw:Incisors 2/2Canines 1/1Premolars 2/2Molars 3/3.The total # of teeth is 32.

Incisors

Canine

Premolar

Molar

There are 7 lumbar vertebrae in the cat; 5 in the human.

The sacrum is composed of 3 fused bones in the cat; 5 in the human.

The cat has 21-25 separate caudal vertebrae. The coccyx in the human consists of 3 -5 fused caudal vertebrae.

Caudal Vertebrae

Human Coccyx

There are 13 pairs of ribs in the cat -pairs 1-9 true, 10-13 false, & pair 13 is also floating.

The human has 12 pairs of ribs - pairs 1-7 true, 8-12 false, & pairs 11-12 are also floating.

True (1-7)

Floating

False (8-12)

The cat’s sternum consists of a manubrium, a body of 6 sternebrae, & a xiphisternum with a xiphoid process.

The human sternum consists of a manubrium, body, & xiphoid process.

Manubrium

Xiphoid Process

Body

There are 7 carpals in the cat; 8 in the human. The scaphoid and lunate are fused as the scapholunate in the cat.

Scaphoid

Lunate

The human clavicle articulates with the sternum & scapula; the cat’s clavicle is reduced and does not articulate with other bones.

Clavicle

Fetal Skeleton

HumanPig

Nervous System

Human Dura Mater of the Meninges

*Photographs courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.

Feline Dura Mater of the Meninges

Human Brain

Mid-sagittal View

SheepHuman

*Photograph courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.

The human brain has two mammillarybodies; the sheep brain has one.

MammillaryBody

Human Sheep

*Photograph courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.

Human Brain

*Photographs courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.

Tumor

Arbor vita in the cerebellum.

Human Sheep

The cat has 38 – 39 pairs of spinal nerves: 8 cervical, 13, thoracic, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 7/8 caudal.

Cauda Equina

The human has 31 pairs of spinal nerves - 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 caudal.

Cauda Equina

Model of the human eye with the dark choroid layer.

Choroid LayerVitreous Body

LensIris & Pupil

Sclera

Optic Disc

The cow eye has an iridescent tapetum lucidum in the choroid.

Choroid Layer

TapetumLucidum

Sclera

Eyeshine

Muscular System

Pectoantebrachialis & xiphihumeralisare chest muscles in the cat.

Pectoralis Minor Pectoralis Major

Xiphumeralis

Pectoantebrachialis

Clavodeltoid

AnteriorPosterior

These muscles are missing in the human.

Pectoralis Major

Clavodeltoid, acromiodeltoid, & spinodeltoid in the cat.Clavodeltoid

Acromiodeltoid

Spinodeltoid

There is one deltoid in the human.

Deltoid

Clavotrapezius, acromiotrapezius, & spinotrapezius are back muscles in the cat.

Spinotrapezius

Acromiotrapezius

Clavotrapezius

There is one trapezius muscle in the human.

R & L Trapezius

The levator scapulae ventralis is found in the cat but is missing in the human.

LevatorScapulae Ventralis

Acromiotrapezius

Lateral View

Caudofemoralis is found in the cat but not in the human.

Biceps Femoris

Caudofemoralis

Vastus Lateralis

Gluteus Maximus

Gluteus Medius

There is no caudofemoralismuscle in the human.

Gluteus Maximus

Tensor Fascia LataeVastus Lateralis

Long Head

Short Head

Biceps Femoris

Lateral View

Thigh muscles in the human.

Rectus FemorisVastusLateralis

SartoriusVastusMedialis

The epitrochlearis muscle is found in the medial arm of the cat.

Epitrochlearis

There is no epitrochlearis in the human arm.

BicepsBrachiiDeltoid

Triceps Brachii

Coracobrachialis

Brachialis

Long Head

Medial Head

Abdominal muscles in the cat.

Internal Oblique

External Oblique

Transversus Abdominus

Abdominal muscles in the human.

External Oblique

Internal Oblique

TransversusAbdominus

Ventral Body Cavity

The ventral body cavity in the cat.

Thorax

Abdominopelvic

Diaphragm

The ventral body cavity in the human.

Thorax

Abdominopelvic

Diaphragm

Digestive System

The greater omentum in the human and cat.

Human Cat

The stomach in the human and cat.

PylorusHuman Cat

Stomach

Stomach

Stomach Feeding Tube

The stomach interior in the human and cat.

RugaeHuman Cat

Roundworms found in the cat stomach

The human liver has 4 lobes.

Gallbladder

R. & L. Lobes

R. Lobe

L. Lobe

Quadrate & Caudate lobes are not pictured.

The feline liver has 6 lobes. Gallbladder

Quadrate LobeL. Lateral Lobe

Caudate Lobe

L. Medial Lobe

R. Medial Lobe

Gallbladder

R. Lateral Lobe

L. Lateral Lobe

The small intestine in the cat is approximately 120 cm long.

Mesentery of the small intestine in the human and cat.

Small Intestine

Mesentery

The cat cecum has no appendix.

Cecum

Small Intestine

Large Intestine

An appendix is found at the human cecum.

Photograph courtesy of Mary Weis, D.V.M.

Small Intestine

Large Intestine

Cecum

Appendix

The large intestine of the cat consists of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and rectum. There is no sigmoid colon.

Cecum Ascending Colon

Transverse Colon

Descending Colon

Rectum

The large intestine of the human consists of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum.

Ascending ColonDescending Colon

Transverse Colon

RectumCecum

Appendix

Photograph courtesy of Becky Brown.

Sigmoid Colon

Small Intestine

Circulatory System

The pig heart has 2 branches off the aortic arch.

BrachiocephalicArtery

Aortic Arch

Pulmonary Trunk

Left SubclavianArtery

There are 3 branches from the aortic arch in the human heart.

BrachiocephalicArtery L. Subclavian Artery

Pulmonary Trunk

L. Common Carotid

Aortic Arch

Pacemaker Wires

There is no common iliac artery in the cat.

External Iliac Artery

Internal Iliac Artery

Posterior Vena Cava

Abdominal Aorta

External Iliac Vein

There is a common iliac artery in the human.

Common Iliac Artery

External Iliac Artery

Internal Iliac Artery

External Iliac Vein

Respiratory System

Human epiglottis, larynx, thyroid gland, and trachea.

Trachea

Primary Bronchus

Larynx

ThyroidGland

Epiglottis

*Photograph courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.

*

Cat epiglottis, larynx, thyroid gland, and trachea.

Trachea

EpiglottisLarynx

Thyroid Gland

False Vocal Cords

Human lungs have 5 lobes.

Right Lung –3 LobesSuperior, Middle, & Inferior

LeftLung -2 Lobes,

Superior& Inferior

Cats lungs have 7 lobes.

Left Lobes –Anterior, Medial, Posterior

Right Lobes –Anterior, Medial, Posterior, &Accessory

Male Reproductive

System

The male reproductive system of the cat lacks paired seminal vesicles & the penis is ensheathed.

Testis in Tunica Albuginea

Spermatic Cord

Penis

The male reproductive system in the human has a pair of seminal vesicles.

Testis

Seminal Vesicle

Female Reproductive

System

The female cat has a urogenital sinus. Young are borne in the uterine horns.

Vagina

Body of the Uterus

Ovary

Uterine Horn

UrogenitalSinus

Feline Embryos

There are separate vaginal and urethral openings in the human female. Young develop in the body of the uterus.

Ovary

Body of Uterus

Cervix

Fallopian Tube

Human Embryo12 Weeks Old

Human Fetus

Human Fetus

Urinary System

The adrenal gland in the cat is medial to the kidney.

Adrenal Gland

Renal Vein

Kidney

The adrenal gland is anterior to the kidney in the human.

Kidney

Adrenal Gland

Kidney disease

Polycystic kidney

Photograph courtesy of Anna E. Ross, Ph.D.

Kidney Adenocarcinoma

ReferencesAugur, Anne M. and Arthur F. Dalley. 2009. Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy, 12th Edition. Wolter Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.

Bohensky, Fred. 2002. PhotoManual & Dissection Guide. Cat with Sheep Heart Brain Eye. Square One Education Guides.

Sebastiani, Aurora M. and Dale W. Fishbeck. 2005. Mammalian Anatomy – The Cat. Morton Publishing Company. Englewood, Colorado.

Walker, Warren F. and Dominique G. Homberger. 1993. A Study of the Cat with Reference to Human Beings. Saunders College Publishing. Fort Worth, Texas.

Wingerd, Bruce D. 2006. Cat Anatomy and Dissection Guide. Bluedoor. Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

The Cat People from Dr. Who