The radiological presentation of the epiphyeal lines of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in donkeys for the determination of their closure time with special reference to the radiological changes ecountered on the back region

Along the present investigation a total numberof 226 donkeys (186 males and 40 females) wereclinically examined and laterally radiographed. Theaim of this work included two main items, Radiolog-ical determination of the closure time in the thora-cic vertebral epiphysis and radiographic detectionof the lesions encountered in the back region.A technique for radiography of the vertebralcolumn in the back region for tranquilized donkeyswas described.Animals examined for epiphyseal closure were 143in number aging from 20 days to 6 years old. The .present study concluded that each thoracic vertebralbody possesses two main centres of ossification,one located cranially (anterior epiphyseal cartilage).In addation, a third ossification centre (dorsalepiphyseal cartilage) was clearly demonstrated atthe summits of the first five thoracic spines. Alsoboth of the cranial and caudal cartilages could be Ieasily distinguished into dorsal, middle and ventralthirds.