Morphometry of the thorax and three-dimensional modelling of the lower respiratory tracts with computed tomography in Van cats

This study was conducted to produce a three-dimensional model of the thorax and lower respiratory tract in Van cats, to reveal their morphometric properties, and to investigate the anatomical structure of this region in more detail. A total of 16 adult Van cats (8 males and 8 females) were used in the study. The thoracic region of the cats was scanned using multi-detector computed tomography device. The images of the scanned region were transferred to the MIMICS 20.1 software that creates three-dimensional reconstruction in order to produce the models. The morphometric measurements were obtained from these models and the index values were calculated. When the data were analysed in terms of sexual dimorphism, significant differences were determined between the sexes in terms of transverse diameter of the thoracic cavity in apertura thoracis cranialis (T2) (P < 0.05), minimum width of apertura thoracis cranialis (T3), and height of the thoracic cavity in thoracis cranialis (H1) (P < 0.01). The index values of the data revealed a significant difference between the sexes only in terms of the thoracic index 2 (P < 0.05). The 7th sternebra was shorter and more flattened than the other sternebrae in Van cats. In conclusion, three-dimensional models of the thorax and lower respiratory tracts of Van cats were produced in the study. It is thought that the data of the study may be useful in clinical practice and academic studies in the field of veterinary medicine.