Morphological study of tracheo-bronchial tree and lungs of hedgehog (hemiechinus auritus)

This study was carried out on eight healthy adult of local hedgehogs of both sex, to elucidate the normal morphology and architecture in the conducting region of respiratory system of hedgehog and distinguish the normal lobulation of lungs. The animals were divided in to two groups. Groups –A for anatomical study, while group -B fore cast technique. The mean length, diameters of both trachea and bronchi also the number of lung lobes are recorded. The trachea was observed to be cartilaginous tube extend from larynx to the lung at thorax terminates by bifurcating in to the right and left principle bronchi above the base of the heart at the 4th thoracic vertebra. The right primary bronchus branched into three secondary lobar bronchi which provide each lobe of right lung (cranial, caudal, middle) while the bronchus of the accessory lobe arise from the middle secondary bronchi. The left primary bronchus is branched directly into several tertiary bronchioles. The lungs were observed to be sponge organ pink color, occupied most of the thoracic cavity, consisting of five portions. The right lung has four lobes cranial middle, caudal and accessory lobes. The caudal lobe is largest one, while the smallest one is the accessory lobe. The left lung has only one lobe occupied most the left side of thoracic cavity.