Cleavage lines of the skin in equine fetuses
Wakuri, H.; Mutoh, K.
Kaibogaku Zasshi. Journal of Anatomy 62(5): 541-549
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-7722 PMID: 3445744 Document Number: 290987
In three equine fetuses 6 to 7 months of age the cleavage line pattern of the skin was demonstrated for the entire body by a thick metal probe with a sharp conical point. Wounds produced by the probe were treated by the techniques of cleavage lines of Gardner and Raybuck (1951) and others. Directionality of the cleavage lines was determined from their relationship to the long axis of each physical structure. The cleavage line pattern of the face and head was constant. A transverse pattern was found in the neck, trunk, tail and free extremities of the appendages, except in some localized areas. An undulate cleavage line pattern was found in the scapular-upper costal region. There was a sexual difference in the cleavage line pattern of the umbilicus and scrotum or mamma. Cleavage lines were annular in arrangement on the skin around the openings for the nares, eyes, and preputial orifice. They showed a convergent pattern on the skin of the anus.