Comparative Anatomy of the Domestic Cat and Selected Organs of the Sheep, Cow, & Pig
With Reference to the HumanKaren McMahon
Biological ScienceThe University of Tulsa
HAPS Institute - Using Cadavers to Teach A&P November 30, 2008
IntegumentarySystem
Cat SkinEpidermis
Hair Root
Dermis
Stratum Corneum
Human Skin, HeavilyPigmented
Epidermis
Dermis
Stratum Corneum
StratumBasale
Skeletal System
The premaxilla is a separate bone in the cat skull.
Premaxilla
Maxilla
Nasal
Maxilla
Nasal
The premaxilla is not present in the human skull.
Cats have a carnivorous dentition pattern.
Teeth in each half of the u. jaw/l. jaw:Incisors 3/3Canines 1/1Premolars 3/2Molars 1/1.The total # of teeth is 30.
Incisors Canine Premolar Molar
Humans have an omnivorous dentition pattern.
Teeth in each half of the upper jaw/lower jaw:Incisors 2/2Canines 1/1Premolars 2/2Molars 3/3.The total # of teeth is 32.
Incisors
Canine
Premolar
Molar
There are 7 lumbar vertebrae in the cat; 5 in the human.
The sacrum is composed of 3 fused bones in the cat; 5 in the human.
The cat has 21-25 separate caudal vertebrae. The coccyx in the human consists of 3 -5 fused caudal vertebrae.
Caudal Vertebrae
Human Coccyx
There are 13 pairs of ribs in the cat -pairs 1-9 true, 10-13 false, & pair 13 is also floating.
The human has 12 pairs of ribs - pairs 1-7 true, 8-12 false, & pairs 11-12 are also floating.
True (1-7)
Floating
False (8-12)
The cat’s sternum consists of a manubrium, a body of 6 sternebrae, & a xiphisternum with a xiphoid process.
The human sternum consists of a manubrium, body, & xiphoid process.
Manubrium
Xiphoid Process
Body
There are 7 carpals in the cat; 8 in the human. The scaphoid and lunate are fused as the scapholunate in the cat.
Scaphoid
Lunate
The human clavicle articulates with the sternum & scapula; the cat’s clavicle is reduced and does not articulate with other bones.
Clavicle
Fetal Skeleton
HumanPig
Nervous System
Human Dura Mater of the Meninges
*Photographs courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.
Feline Dura Mater of the Meninges
Human Brain
Mid-sagittal View
SheepHuman
*Photograph courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.
The human brain has two mammillarybodies; the sheep brain has one.
MammillaryBody
Human Sheep
*Photograph courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.
Human Brain
*Photographs courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.
Tumor
Arbor vita in the cerebellum.
Human Sheep
The cat has 38 – 39 pairs of spinal nerves: 8 cervical, 13, thoracic, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 7/8 caudal.
Cauda Equina
The human has 31 pairs of spinal nerves - 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 caudal.
Cauda Equina
Model of the human eye with the dark choroid layer.
Choroid LayerVitreous Body
LensIris & Pupil
Sclera
Optic Disc
The cow eye has an iridescent tapetum lucidum in the choroid.
Choroid Layer
TapetumLucidum
Sclera
Eyeshine
Muscular System
Pectoantebrachialis & xiphihumeralisare chest muscles in the cat.
Pectoralis Minor Pectoralis Major
Xiphumeralis
Pectoantebrachialis
Clavodeltoid
AnteriorPosterior
These muscles are missing in the human.
Pectoralis Major
Clavodeltoid, acromiodeltoid, & spinodeltoid in the cat.Clavodeltoid
Acromiodeltoid
Spinodeltoid
There is one deltoid in the human.
Deltoid
Clavotrapezius, acromiotrapezius, & spinotrapezius are back muscles in the cat.
Spinotrapezius
Acromiotrapezius
Clavotrapezius
There is one trapezius muscle in the human.
R & L Trapezius
The levator scapulae ventralis is found in the cat but is missing in the human.
LevatorScapulae Ventralis
Acromiotrapezius
Lateral View
Caudofemoralis is found in the cat but not in the human.
Biceps Femoris
Caudofemoralis
Vastus Lateralis
Gluteus Maximus
Gluteus Medius
There is no caudofemoralismuscle in the human.
Gluteus Maximus
Tensor Fascia LataeVastus Lateralis
Long Head
Short Head
Biceps Femoris
Lateral View
Thigh muscles in the human.
Rectus FemorisVastusLateralis
SartoriusVastusMedialis
The epitrochlearis muscle is found in the medial arm of the cat.
Epitrochlearis
There is no epitrochlearis in the human arm.
BicepsBrachiiDeltoid
Triceps Brachii
Coracobrachialis
Brachialis
Long Head
Medial Head
Abdominal muscles in the cat.
Internal Oblique
External Oblique
Transversus Abdominus
Abdominal muscles in the human.
External Oblique
Internal Oblique
TransversusAbdominus
Ventral Body Cavity
The ventral body cavity in the cat.
Thorax
Abdominopelvic
Diaphragm
The ventral body cavity in the human.
Thorax
Abdominopelvic
Diaphragm
Digestive System
The greater omentum in the human and cat.
Human Cat
The stomach in the human and cat.
PylorusHuman Cat
Stomach
Stomach
Stomach Feeding Tube
The stomach interior in the human and cat.
RugaeHuman Cat
Roundworms found in the cat stomach
The human liver has 4 lobes.
Gallbladder
R. & L. Lobes
R. Lobe
L. Lobe
Quadrate & Caudate lobes are not pictured.
The feline liver has 6 lobes. Gallbladder
Quadrate LobeL. Lateral Lobe
Caudate Lobe
L. Medial Lobe
R. Medial Lobe
Gallbladder
R. Lateral Lobe
L. Lateral Lobe
The small intestine in the cat is approximately 120 cm long.
Mesentery of the small intestine in the human and cat.
Small Intestine
Mesentery
The cat cecum has no appendix.
Cecum
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
An appendix is found at the human cecum.
Photograph courtesy of Mary Weis, D.V.M.
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
Cecum
Appendix
The large intestine of the cat consists of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and rectum. There is no sigmoid colon.
Cecum Ascending Colon
Transverse Colon
Descending Colon
Rectum
The large intestine of the human consists of the cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum.
Ascending ColonDescending Colon
Transverse Colon
RectumCecum
Appendix
Photograph courtesy of Becky Brown.
Sigmoid Colon
Small Intestine
Circulatory System
The pig heart has 2 branches off the aortic arch.
BrachiocephalicArtery
Aortic Arch
Pulmonary Trunk
Left SubclavianArtery
There are 3 branches from the aortic arch in the human heart.
BrachiocephalicArtery L. Subclavian Artery
Pulmonary Trunk
L. Common Carotid
Aortic Arch
Pacemaker Wires
There is no common iliac artery in the cat.
External Iliac Artery
Internal Iliac Artery
Posterior Vena Cava
Abdominal Aorta
External Iliac Vein
There is a common iliac artery in the human.
Common Iliac Artery
External Iliac Artery
Internal Iliac Artery
External Iliac Vein
Respiratory System
Human epiglottis, larynx, thyroid gland, and trachea.
Trachea
Primary Bronchus
Larynx
ThyroidGland
Epiglottis
*Photograph courtesy of Kevin Patton, Ph.D.
*
Cat epiglottis, larynx, thyroid gland, and trachea.
Trachea
EpiglottisLarynx
Thyroid Gland
False Vocal Cords
Human lungs have 5 lobes.
Right Lung –3 LobesSuperior, Middle, & Inferior
LeftLung -2 Lobes,
Superior& Inferior
Cats lungs have 7 lobes.
Left Lobes –Anterior, Medial, Posterior
Right Lobes –Anterior, Medial, Posterior, &Accessory
Male Reproductive
System
The male reproductive system of the cat lacks paired seminal vesicles & the penis is ensheathed.
Testis in Tunica Albuginea
Spermatic Cord
Penis
The male reproductive system in the human has a pair of seminal vesicles.
Testis
Seminal Vesicle
Female Reproductive
System
The female cat has a urogenital sinus. Young are borne in the uterine horns.
Vagina
Body of the Uterus
Ovary
Uterine Horn
UrogenitalSinus
Feline Embryos
There are separate vaginal and urethral openings in the human female. Young develop in the body of the uterus.
Ovary
Body of Uterus
Cervix
Fallopian Tube
Human Embryo12 Weeks Old
Human Fetus
Human Fetus
Urinary System
The adrenal gland in the cat is medial to the kidney.
Adrenal Gland
Renal Vein
Kidney
The adrenal gland is anterior to the kidney in the human.
Kidney
Adrenal Gland
Kidney disease
Polycystic kidney
Photograph courtesy of Anna E. Ross, Ph.D.
Kidney Adenocarcinoma
ReferencesAugur, Anne M. and Arthur F. Dalley. 2009. Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy, 12th Edition. Wolter Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
Bohensky, Fred. 2002. PhotoManual & Dissection Guide. Cat with Sheep Heart Brain Eye. Square One Education Guides.
Sebastiani, Aurora M. and Dale W. Fishbeck. 2005. Mammalian Anatomy – The Cat. Morton Publishing Company. Englewood, Colorado.
Walker, Warren F. and Dominique G. Homberger. 1993. A Study of the Cat with Reference to Human Beings. Saunders College Publishing. Fort Worth, Texas.
Wingerd, Bruce D. 2006. Cat Anatomy and Dissection Guide. Bluedoor. Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
The Cat People from Dr. Who