Histology of the Constituents of the Umbilical Cord and Ductus Arteriosus and Ductus Venosus of the Dromedary Camel

In this study, we examined 30 foetuses of dromedary camel (101–393 days of gestation). The umbilical cord of the camel contains 2 arteries, 2 veins and an allantoic duct. The 2 veins drain into a muscular venous sinus which is situates intra-abdominally about1-8 cm from the liver. The umbilical vessels are muscular vessels consisting of branched and anastomosed smooth muscle bundles. The ductus venosus has a thin wall rich in elastic and collagen fibres, and the smooth muscle fibres increase in number at its junction with the vena cava caudalis and with the portal vein. The ductus arteriosus is a muscular canal joining the pulmonary trunk with the arch of the aorta and possesses mainly branch and anastomose smooth muscle bundles.