Examination of the Morphometric Features and Three-Dimensional Modelling of the Skull in Van Cats by Using Computed Tomographic Images

Abstract

This study was conducted to make the three-dimensional modelling of the skull in Van cats by using computed tomographic images and to determine the morphometric features between sexes. The skulls of 16 adult Van cats were used in the study. The skulls of the anesthetized animals were scanned by using a Computed Tomography (CT) device and their images were obtained. These images were converted to a three-dimensional structure using MIMICS 20.1 software and their morphometric measurements were calculated. It was determined in the study that total length of the skull (TLS), facial length (FCL), upper neurocranium length (UNCL), greatest length of the nasal (GLN), maximum zygomatic width (MZW), condylobasal length (CBL), basal length (BL), median palatal length (MPL), palatal length (PL), least palatal breadth (LPB), length of the cheek tooth row (LCR), greatest inner height of the orbit (GIHO), skull height (SH), and volumetric measurement values were statistically significantly higher in the male cats; whereas, breadth dorsal to the external auditory meatus (BEAM) and neurocranium length (NL) measurement values were statistically significantly higher in the female cats (P<0.05). In conclusion, the statistical differences between the sexes in terms of biometric values of skull of Van cats were determined. Present study would be beneficial to veterinary physicians in the surgical and clinical practice fields and to the studies in the field of zooarchaeology as well as being guiding for determining the typology of Van cats among the cat species and its differences from other species.