VARIATIONS IN THE BRANCHES OF THE CCELIAC 

 ARTERY IN THE RABBIT 



H. R. WERNER* 



It has been noted in some mammals, and no doubt this is true 

 for most species, that there is considerable variation from what 

 is ordinarily understood as the normal condition in the origin and 

 arrangement of certain arteries and veins. Such variations have 

 been reported concerning the origin of groups of vessels, such as 

 the arteries which arise from the systemic aorta and supply the 

 head, neck and fore limbs. Similar conditions have been observed 

 in the post cava and the venous system in general in some mam- 

 mals. Even the blood vessels in man, both arteries and veins, 

 are subject to a great many variations, or, what are sometimes 

 called, abnormalities. 



Students in their work in physiology in this department use 

 approximately one hundred and twenty-five rabbits each year and 

 it has been a matter of very general occurrence to find rabbits in 

 which the arrangement of the arteries did not conform to that 

 which is considered the normal condition. (See Baldwin, this vol- 

 ume, as to carotid variation.) 



The origin and arrangement of the branches of the coeliac artery 

 presented a most interesting state of affairs and it was therefore 

 attempted to make a careful record of such variations and note the 

 frequency with which they occurred. 



The supply of rabbits consisted of the types which are ordinari- 

 ly obtained from the average breeder. Many of the animals, how- 

 ever, which were used for our purpose, were secured from the 

 Animal Husbandry Department of Iowa State College and came 

 from their stock supply. Five specially injected rabbits for these 

 observations were about three-quarters Belgian. Both male and 

 female individuals were used. 



The arterial system of the rabbits was injected with a red in- 

 jection mass through the femoral artery, while in a few cases the 

 coeliac artery or one of its branches was injected separately. The 

 blood vessels of rabbits which had just been killed also were 

 studied, in which case the contained blood within the vessels made 

 a careful study comparatively easy. 



•Deceased, Feb. 14, 1920. 



