Some macrometric anatomical parameters of the adrenal glands in the New Zealand white rabbit

The anatomical features of the rabbit adrenal glands have been investigated in some aspects, either via classic anatomical methods and routine histology, either using imaging modalities in our previous experiments. The present study is focused for obtaining data, concerning the objective values of three macrometric indices – lateromedial, craniocaudal and dorsoventral diameters. We used the cadavers of thirty-four 8-month old (sexually mature) healthy white New Zealand rabbits weighing 2.8-3.2 kg. We reached the abdominal cavity after median incision. The both kidneys were kept in abdominal cavity with a view to find more easily the location of the right and left adrenal glands. The material was documented using a digital camera. The craniocaudal, dorsoventral and lateromedial diameters have been measured using a digital caliper, as the obtained values were accurate to the second sign. Descriptive analysis of the results using Statistica 8 - StatSoft DELL was performed. The lateromedial diameter of the right adrernal gland was 5.1 mm ± 1.0, craniocaudal diameter was 9.3 mm ± 1.2 and the dorsoventral diameter - 5.0 mm ± 0.8. For the left adrenal gland were measured the following values - the lateromedial diameter was 6.5 mm ± 1.2, the craniocaudal diameter was 10. 2 mm ± 1.4 and the dorsoventral diameter was 6.3 mm ± 0.9. Our results showed that the studied parameters of the left gland were with higher values compared to the right gland. The results from the conducted anatomical study deepens the knowledge for the macroscopic features of the rabbit adrenal glands.