Growth pattern of the rabbit snout dorsum: a serial cephalometric radiographic study with radiopaque implants
Sarnat, B.G.; Selman, A.J.
Journal of Anatomy 124(Pt 2): 469-474
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8782 PMID: 591441 Document Number: 116522
Two radiopaque implants were inserted into each left and right frontal bone in 5 female rabbits. Ventrodorsal cephalometric radiographs were then taken in a specially designed head holder at 6 and 16 wk of age. From these radiographs separate tracings were made on matte acetate paper of the left and right snout including the radiopaque implants. Since the implants maintained the same relationship to each other in each frontal bone, they served as stable reference sites. Markers of the 16 wk tracing were superimposed on markers of the 6 wk tracing. The difference in the 2 established outlines of the snout represented the changes in size and shape in 2 dimensions that had occurred during the 10 wk period. Mean increase was 17.91 mm at the distal (anterior) border, 4.95 mm at the lateral border and 1.22 mm at the medial border. Growth at the lateral border of the snout was about 4 times that of the medial border, and growth at the distal border was about 3 1/2 times that of the lateral border.