The carotid encephalic system of the Cebus apella sp., Linnaeus, 1766

Abstract

The carotid system of the encephalon of thirty species of the primate Cebus apella sp. (Linnaeus, 1766) was studied in this research. The material was collected according to international bioethics parameters and animals' welfare. The arterial system was perfused (water at 40 °C), injected with colored latex (Neoprene 450, Dupont® do Brasil and Sulvinil® coloring, Glassurit), fixed in formaldehyde aqueous solution (10%) and dissected under magnifying glass (RASOR, II-20) for the systematization of vessels. The carotid system is composed by the intracranial and internal portions of both right and left carotid arteries, the carotid arteries of the encephalon and their lateromedial and anteromedial branch divisions: the medial and rostral cerebral arteries, communicating caudal and interconnected arteries. It is interconnected through the caudal communicating arteries to the vertebral-basilar system (100%). The internal carotid artery ends up being divided into three: caudal communicating arteries, medial cerebral and rostral cerebral (50%) or into two: medial cerebral and rostral cerebral arteries (50%). The medial cerebral artery is the most stable branch of this circuit. and after ventricularizing the olfactory bulbs (93.3%), the rostral cerebral artery becomes anastomosis with the contralateral artery, forming the interhemispheric artery that connects the blood layers of the arterial circuit of the encephalon base. It can be considered that Cebus apella sp. depends on two supply sources to the encephalon: the basilar and carotid systems, what indicates an important degree of evolutionary maturity. The absence of anomalies in this primate demonstrates evolutionary stability.