Morphometric and Macroanatomic Examination of Cavum Nasi in Kivircik Sheep: A Statistical Comparison by Gender

Sheep, from which people benefit for their meat, milk, skin, and wool, are among the first domesticated animal species. Sheep breeding has an important share in agricultural activities inmost countries. In addition to the fact that most countries'sclimatic characteristics, land structure, and natural pastures are suitable for sheep breeding, sheep breeding is widely practiced due to its versatile productivity [1]. Kivircik sheep is one of the sheep breeds raised in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece. Kivircik sheep are mostly used for their meat yield. Their bodies are covered with white, coarse-mixed wool. Black and brown ones are also seen and are bred in Bulgaria. Males have white spiral horns, females have no horns. Head, neck, underbelly, and legs are naked. The head is long, the ears are short, the neck is long and narrow, the body is long and narrow, the rump is low and narrow, legs are long. The tail is long and thin and extends to the tarsus joint. The body is medium-sized. The fleece is carpet-like fleece and one of higher quality than the fleece of other local breeds. The Kivircik sheep ranks first among Turkish sheep breeds in terms of meat quality. The cranium in the axial skeleton system is located at the front of the skeletal system. It is a solid structure consisting mostly of double bones. The skull bones are divided into sections and examined separately according to the spaces they surround and the structures they form the basis of. These sections are called ossa cranii and ossa faciei. The facial part of the cranium forms the wall of the nasal cavity, called the cavum nasi, and the bony roof of the oral cavity. The cavum nasi (nasal cavity) forms the facial part of the respiratory system. The nasal cavity is a cavity divided into two halves by a partition called the septum nasi. It opens into the nares in the front and the choana in the back and the pars nasali pharyngis. It has a roof, a floor, and two lateral walls, one inner and one outer. The nasal cavity is divided into the airways called the meatus nasi dorsalis, meatus nasi medius, meatus nasi ventralis and meatus nasi communis through the conchae [2,3]. The cranial bones encase and protect the brain and are meticulously categorized into the calvaria and the skull base. The calvaria, or skullcap, consists of the frontal, parietal, and occipital bones, each contributing to the overall shape and integrity of the cranial vault. In contrast, the base of the skull encompasses the sphenoid, temporal, and ethmoid bones, which articulate to form the complex floor that supports vital neurovascular structures [4]. In addition to their protective roles, these bones provide crucial attachment points for muscles involved in mastication and head movement. The intricate sutures that connect them allow for flexibility during growth and development, while also serving as landmarks for both anatomical study and surgical intervention [5]. Meanwhile, the facial bones contribute to the structural framework of the face, housing the nasal cavity, orbits, and dental arches. Comprising the maxillae, zygomatic bones, nasal bones, and mandible, these elements support the overlying soft tissues and playa pivotal role in functions such as respiration, mastication, and articulation [6,7]. Each bone'sunique morphology is tailored to its function, with foramina facilitating the passage of nerves vessels, and sinuses providing resonance to the voice while reducing overall skull weight. The intricate interplay between these elements underscores the skeleton'sdual role as botha protective encasement and a dynamic framework for the human body. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of skull anatomy is essential for both anatomical knowledge and clinical practice [8]. The aim of this study is to reveal the macro-anatomical and morphometric characteristics of certain structures of the nasal cavity in Kivircik sheep. In addition, statistical evaluations of the morphometric and macro-anatomical features of the cavum nasi were conducted.