An anatomical study of the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae in normal horses: Computed tomographic anatomical and morphometric findings.
Authors: Liuti T, Reardon R, Smith S, Dixon P M
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Anatomical study of the nasal conchal bullae in horses Infections of the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae have emerged as clinically significant conditions in equine practice, yet detailed anatomical information about these structures has remained limited until now. Liuti and colleagues used computed tomography to map the precise dimensions, volumes and anatomical relationships of both bullae in 60 cadaver heads stratified across three age groups, establishing baseline measurements that can serve as reference standards for normal anatomy. The dorsal conchal bulla proved substantially larger than the ventral (mean volumes 24 cm³ versus 15 cm³), with both structures showing significant growth with age; notably, ventral bullae appeared smaller in younger horses owing to encroachment from erupting dental alveoli. Critically, the researchers identified consistent rostro-caudal anatomical landmarks—specific maxillary cheek teeth correspond reliably to the boundaries of each bulla—findings that have direct diagnostic utility for radiographic interpretation and surgical planning. For farriers and clinicians managing horses with suspected bulla disease, these landmarks provide actionable reference points, whilst the morphometric data establish a framework for identifying pathological enlargement or asymmetry on imaging.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •CT provides reliable measurements of normal nasal conchal bulla anatomy; understanding baseline dimensions aids diagnosis of pathological cases
- •Maxillary cheek teeth positions serve as reliable anatomical landmarks for identifying bullae boundaries during radiographic examination and surgical intervention
- •Age-related size variation must be considered when evaluating nasal bulla disease in younger versus older horses
Key Findings
- •Mean dorsal conchal bulla dimensions: 7.5 cm length, 1.9 cm width, 2.8 cm height, 24 cm³ volume (range 5.9–50.5 cm³)
- •Mean ventral conchal bulla dimensions: 5.7 cm length, 1.6 cm width, 2.4 cm height, 15 cm³ volume (range 0.4–30 cm³)
- •Both bullae significantly increased in size with age, with smaller dimensions in younger animals likely due to dental alveoli protrusion
- •Rostro-caudal boundaries of both bullae showed consistent anatomical relationships with specific maxillary cheek teeth, useful as surgical landmarks