Anatomical features of the dentoalveolar apparatus in representatives of Equus

This publication reflects the anatomical characteristics of the dentoalveolar apparatus in representatives of the genus Equus, as well as the frequency of its pathologies. The studies were conducted on the basis of the Department of Anatomy and Histology of Animals named after Prof. A. F. Klimov of the K. I. Skryabin Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biology and the craniological collection of the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University named after M. V. Lomonosov. The object of the study were representatives of Equus (n=40): kulan, domestic horse, and Przewalski's horse at the age of 5–15 years. Methods of macromorphological analysis, morpho- and odontometry with the subsequent calculation of odontometric indices and statistical processing of the obtained numerical data were used. According to the results of the studies, the general ancestral regularities and peculiarities of anatomical organization of the dento-mandibular apparatus in representatives of Equus were established. On the basis of the analysis of odontometric indices the peculiarities of distribution of biomechanical load at masticatory act are established. At an estimation of a condition of the dento-mandibular apparatus of the horses studied, it is revealed, that the greater quantity of its pathological changes (92 %) has been found out in animals being in conditions with unnatural habitat. The obtained results are basic for diagnostics, identification and evaluation of pathomorphosis of dentoalveolar apparatus injuries in representatives of Equus.