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Morphological and Certain Morphometrical Study of Scapula of Indian Tiger

Article · December 2016

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Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 28(2) : 77-79, December 2016
Morphological and Certain Morphometrical Study of Scapula of Indian Tiger
*Archana Mahapatra, Sathish K. Pathak1, Amarpal2 and A.M. Pawde3
Department of Veterinary Anatomy
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly (U.P.)-243122
Received : 24.06.2016 Accepted: 17.08.2016

Abstract
A study was conducted on the scapula bones of Indian tiger available in the section of Veterinary Anatomy,
Indian Veterinary Research Institute. The study included morphological and certain morphometrical parameters
of scapula bones of seven adult Indian tiger. Scapula was a quadrilateral flat bone. Spine was inclined to the
infraspinous fossa and it was not tuberous in the middle. Before acromian process the spine was curved at the
distal end over the infraspinous fossa which was known as suprahamate process. Medial surface was divided into
6 regions by lower to higher raised lines. The ratio of supraspinous width to infraspinous width was 1: 0.8. The
scapular index was high i.e. 83.77 cm.
Key words: Morphological, Morphometrical, Scapula, Indian Tiger

Introduction 2. Scapular width:Maximum scapular width (from the caudal

Along with locomotion the forelimbs of Felidae play
an important role in predation (Meachen-Samuels and Van
Valkenburgh, 2009). The flat bone, scapula being a morphologically
complex segment of the forelimb, transmits locomotor loads to the
thorax, stabilises the shoulder and allows forelimb mobility; e.g.
for climbing and prey apprehension (Fischer and Blickhan, 2006).
However, there is a scarcity of information on morphology and
morphometric measurements of the scapula of Indian tiger. So the
present study was designed to record and document morphological
and certain morphometric parameters of scapula bones of adult
Indian tiger.
angle to the mid point of the anterior border)
3. Scapular index: Scapular width×100/scapular length
4. Supraspinous length: Maximum length of supraspinous
fossa
5. Supraspinous width:Maximum width of supraspinous fossa
6. Supraspinous index:Supraspinous width×100/supraspinous
length
7. Infraspinous length: Maximum length of infraspinous fossa
8. Infraspinous width: Maximum width of infraspinous fossa

Materials and Methods 9. Infraspinous index: Infraspinous width×100/infraspinous

length
Present study was conducted on the scapula bones of Indian
tiger available in the section of Anatomy, Indian Veterinary The data generated from seven animals were analysed to find
Research Institute. The study included morphological and certain mean ± SE for each parameter.
morphometrical parameters of scapula bones of seven adult Indian Results and Discussion
tiger without any apparent skeletal disorders, using scale, thread
and Vernier calipers. These morphometric parameters of the Scapula was a quadrilateral flat bone which is in line with the
scapula bones of Indian tiger are defined below findings of Irimescu et al. (2010) in domestic European breed of
tiger.
1. Scapular length: Maximum scapular length (from the cranial
angle to the coracoid process).

*Corresponding author : archanamit88@gmail.com

77
Archana M et al.
Table: 1 Morphometrical Parameters (Mean±S.E.) of dorsal angle and thinner towards glenoid angle. Dorsal border
Scapular bones in adult Indian tiger. was also straight thinner towards dorsal angle and thicker
towards cervical angle. Cervical angle was blunt. Dorsal/caudal
S.N. Morphometrical Mean±SE
angle was at right angle. Glenoid angle carried the glenoid cavity.
Parameters
Distal extremity carried the oval glenoid cavity. Anteriorly
1. Scapular Length 27.51±0.71(23.8-29)
it had the tuber scapulae fused with the anterior margin of the
2. Scapular Width 23±0.59 (20.5-25.5) glenoid cavity and made it large and wider. Medially coracoid
3. Scapular Index 83.77±2.16 (77-91.07) process was present in the tuber scapulae. Glenoid notch was
present anterolaterally. It was variable within the species from less
4. Supraspinous Length 23.54±0.46 (21-24.5)
distinct to more distinct (Fig.4).
5. Supraspinous Width 8.97±0.28 (7.7-10)
The data obtained for morphometrical measurements (mean
6. Supraspinous Index 38.07±0.69 (35.54-40.82)
± SE) are shown in Table 1. The difference between maximum
7. Infraspinous Length 23.54±0.46 (21-24.5) scapular length and maximum scapular width was very less.
8. Infraspinous Width 11.53±0.35 (9.6-12.4) It showed that the bone was somewhat rounded. In the present
study the scapular length and width were 27.51 cm and 23 cm
9. Infraspinous Index 48.91±0.73 (45.71-51.24)
respectively. Lucy and Harshan (2010) reported the scapular
There were two surfaces (lateral and medial surface), three length and scapular width of tiger as 25 cm and 17 cm respectively,
borders (anterior, posterior and dorsal border) and three angles whereas Sarma et al. (2013) recorded the scapular length and width
(cervical/ cranial, dorsal/ caudal and glenoid angle) as the same as 24.82 cm and 21.11 respectively. The findings of the present
observed in domestic animals. study were in accordance with the observation of earlier workers
(Lucy and Harshan, 2010; Sarma et al. 2013).
Lateral surface of the scapula was divided by the scapular
spine into supraspinous fossa and infraspinous fossa. Supraspinous Supraspinous length was two and a half times greater than
fossa was observed to be extensive and semi-circular or half supraspinous width, whereas infraspinous length was two times
moon shaped. Infraspinous fossa was found to be a triangular greater than infraspinous width. The ratio of supraspinous width to
area (Fig.1). Scapular spine was extended up to the level of the infraspinous width was 1: 0.8, so width of supraspinous fossa was
glenoid cavity and ended with the acromion process. Spine was greater than infraspinous fossa. Irimescu et al. (2010) observed
inclined to the infraspinous fossa and it was not tuberous in the 1:1 ratio of supraspinous width to infraspinous width with tilted
middle. Before acromian process the spine was curved at the distal scapular spine towards the infraspinous fossa. This might be
end over the infraspinous fossa which was known as suprahamate attributable to breed difference. The scapular index was high i.e.
process (Fig.3) which corroborated the finding of Dyce et al. 83.77 cm in the present study and confirmed to the observation of
(2010) in the cat. Charles et al. (2009) who reported that scapular index is extremely
high in the pronograde (quadrupeds) animals.
Few foramina were present on the lateral surface whose number
varied from 2-6, among which 2-3 foramina were comparatively The present study put on record the basic morphometrical data
larger and others were smaller. Supraspinous fossa was divided about the scapular morphology in tiger which would fill the lacuna
into two unequal halves by a raised area. in the scientific literature, on the gross structure of scapula of
tiger and would be useful to animal handlers, clinicians, forensic
Medial surface was divided into 6 regions by lower to higher
scientists and scientists engaged in the field of tiger conservation
raised lines (Fig.2). Near the cervical angle there was a roughened
and their management.
area for the attachment of serratus muscle. Few foramina were
also present on this surface whose number varied from animal to References
animal i.e. 2-3. Charles, A. R. Jr., Frederick, A.M., Michael, A.W. and Steven,
Anterior border was strongly curved and convex, B.L. 2009. The Shoulder. 4th edn., Elsevier Health Sciences,
notched in the distal extremity to form the glenoid angle. It Amsterdam.
was thicker towards the cervical angle and thinner towards Dyce, K.M., Sack W.O. and Wensing C.J.G. 2010. Textbook of
glenoid angle. Posterior border was straight, thicker towards veterinary anatomy. 4th edn., Saunders Elsevier, Riverport
Lane St. Louis, Missouri USA.

78

Fischer, M.S., and Blickhan,R. 2006. The tri-segmented limbs of
therian mammals: kinematics, dynamics, and self-stabilization
– a review. Journal of Experimental Zoology 305: 935–952.
Irimescu, I. Crişan, M., Cristian, D., Damian, A., Gudea, A., Stan,
F., Chirilean, I. and Tuns, F. 2010. Comparative Study of the
Thoracic Limb Skeleton in the Cat (FelisCatus) and in the
Tiger (Panthera Tigris). Cluj Veterinary Journal 18(2): 52-57.
Lucy, K.M. and Harshan, K.R. 2010. Gross anatomy of scapula of
tiger (Pantheratigris). Indian wildlife year book 8&9: 83-84.
Fig.1. Photograph of scapula of adult Indian
tiger (lateral view) showingsemi-circular
or half moon shaped supraspinous
fossa (A), non-tuberous spine(S) and
triangularinfraspinous fossa.
Fig.3. Photograph of scapula of adult Indian
tiger (lateral view) showingsuprahamate
process (SH) and acromion process (A)
near distal end.
79
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Scapula Tiger
Meachen-Samuels, J., and Van Valkenburgh, B. 2009. Forelimb
indicators of prey-size preference in the Felidae. Journal of
Morphology 270(6): 729–44.
Sarma, M., Kalita, S.N., Sarma, K.K., Sarma, K., Dev Choudhury,
K. B.and Pathak, H. 2013. Comparative anatomical studies
on the scapulae of Bengal tiger and Indian leopard. Indian
Journal of Animal Sciences 83 (11): 1177–1178.
Fig.2. Photograph of scapula of adult Indian
tiger showingdividedmedial surface into
6 regions by lower to higher raised lines.
Fig.4. Photograph of scapula of adult Indian
tigershowingcoracoid process (C) medially
and oval glenoid cavity (G) distally.