THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

examination of the muzzle prints no two prints are identical.
Therefore, muzzle printing as a means of identification could
be used for the carabao identification. As previously reported
in cattle and buffalo, the muzzle pattern does not change
with age.
Keywords: muzzle prints, Philippine carabao, Bubalus
bubalis, Philippine-Murrah crossbred
* Undergraduate thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, 1999.
A-78
THE ANATOMY OF THE BONES, TENDONS AND
LIGAMENTS OF THE METACARPO-PHALANGEAL
AND METATARSO-PHALANGEAL REGIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis L.)*
V. D. Viernes Jr., Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Science and
Medicine, Central Luzon State University, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
The bones, tendons and ligaments of the metacarpophalangeal
and metatarso-phalangeal regions of the
Philippine water buffalo were described. The shape,
relationship and measurement (length and weight) of the
metacarpus, metatarsus, phalanges and sesamoid bones
were determined. The attachment of the individual tendon
and ligaments were also characterized and compared with
the existing data in cattle. The bones of the metacarpophalangeal
region was composed of one large metacarpal
bone (Mc3 and Mc4), one small metacarpal bone (Mc5),
two chief digits (III and IV) with three phalanges each, two
dewclaws (digit II and V) with one or two phalanges each,
four proximal sesamois and two distal sesamoids or
navicular bones. The bones of the metatarso-phalangeal is
composed of two metatarsal bones (large metatarsus and
small metatarsus), four digits (principal and accessory)
with two to three phalanges each, four proximal sesamoids
and two distal sesamoids or navicular bone. There were
three extensor tendons in the forelimb; lateral and medial
branch of the common digital extensor and the lateral digital
extensor. In the hindlimb, the long extensor of the digits,
extensor proper of digit III and the lateral digital extensor.
The flexor tendons were the superficial digital flexor, deep
digital flexor and the interosseous ligament. The common
collateral ligament was divided into four groups; (1) abaxial
lateral collateral ligaments, (2) abaxial medial collateral
ligaments (3) axial collateral ligament of digit III, (4) axial
collateral ligament of digit IV and (5) common collateral
ligaments. There are two ligaments of the dewclaw; the
transverse and distal suspensory ligament of digit III and
IV. The interdigital ligament was divided into proximal
interdigital and distal intedigital (superficial and deep). There
ANATOMY
are also two annular ligaments, one for the fetlock region
and a digital annular ligament of digit III and IV, which was
divided into proximal and distal. The sesamoidean ligaments
were the following; middle sesamoidean (collateral,
intersesamoidean, lateral and medial palmar ligament),
distal sesamoidean (middle short sesamoidean ligament),
interdigital phalangosesamoidean, cruciate sesamoidean,
oblique sesamoidean, distal interphalangeal sesamoidean
(axial collateral, abaxial collateral, axial digital, abaxial
digital). There were three pairs of palmar ligaments of the
proximal interphalangeal joint; the abaxial, middle and axial.
Keywords: metacarpo-phalangeal region, metatarsophalangeal
region, Philippine water buffalo, Bubalus
bubalis
* Masteral Thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna
(2004). Copy of thesis available at the Library of the College
of Veterinary Medicine, UPLB.
A-79
CYTOBIOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE
HEMOLYMPH NODE IN THE PHILIPPINE CARABAO
(Bubalus bubalis): AN ANATOMICO-HISTOLOGIC
CORRELATIVE STUDY ON ITS HEMOPOIETIC AND
IMMUNOLOGIC ROLE*
E. L. Enriquez-Yap, Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
The hemolymph node or gland is a modified lymphoid
structure which is a member of a group of histologicallyrelated
lymphoid tissue forming the so- called “Hemopoietic
System” of the animal. At present, there exist a diversity
of opinion regarding its exact morphological nature that will
place it into a class or category of its own in the system of
the so-called lymphoid structures and/or hemopoietic
organs. The knowledge of its exact character may suggest
its probable role in hemopoiesis and in the immunologic
functions of the animal. The present study is the first report
made on this structure in the Philippine carabao which is
an initial work involving the study of the whole lymphoid
organ system in this animal. These structures are frequently
encountered within the perivascular tissue, particularly
along the abdominal aorta, in close association with the
abdominal viscera, lymph glands and mesentery and in
the subcutaneous tissue and retroperitoneal fat, especially
in the perirenal region. Hemolymph nodes are oval
structures, with color ranging from deep red to light purple
and to dark purple. They vary in size from hardly noticeable
to pea-size nodules with a diameter of approximately 0.1
cm to 1.6 cm. A fibro-elastic capsule envelopes the entire
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