Craniometrical Studies on Calvarial Development in Dromedarian Fetuses

The study aimed at evaluating the craniometric data of the calvaria in one-humped camel fetuses. A total number of thirty-two wasted camel fetuses were collected from Sokoto central abattoir for a period of six months; eleven fetuses were at the first trimester, twelve at the second trimester and nine at the third trimester from which craniometrical data were obtained. The skull length, skull weight, cranial length, viscerocranial length, maximum zygomatic width, maximum width of neurocranium and the cranial indices indicated increased values (P < 0.05) with corresponding fetal age increase as seen at the varying trimesters of the camel fetuses. Craniometrical data indicates cranial growth, which increased chronologically with fetal age advancement across the trimesters in this study with highest values recorded at the third trimester at which level the fetal brain could be assuming an adult form which may be functional at the postnatal stage. It could then be deduced that the higher the craniometrical values, the larger the cranial and brain growth. Data obtained from this study will find application in surgery of the cranium (neurosurgery) and will help in adding to literatures of anatomy in this animal species.