IVRI Anatomy
A free veterinary anatomy learning platform for B.V.Sc., M.V.Sc., DVM and veterinary medicine students worldwide, developed at the Veterinary Anatomy Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly—covering VCI/MSVE and international university curricula through regional anatomy, histology, embryology, comparative biomechanics, clinical notes, quizzes and revision.
The splanchnology of the head begins with the oral cavity (cavum oris), which in ruminants is specialized for prehension and mastication of fibrous feed. Upper incisors and the upper canine are absent; a cornified dental pad occupies their region.
The bovine tongue bears a distinctive torus linguae (lingual torus) — a firm dorsal swelling of smooth muscle and connective tissue in the middle third of the tongue that aids in grasping forage.
The pharynx acts as a critical switching station where the respiratory and digestive tracts cross. It is divided into the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and laryngopharynx. The epiglottis acts as the switching valve during deglutition.
The salivary glands of ruminants are enormous — the parotid alone can weigh 400 g — because ruminants require vast quantities of alkaline saliva (up to 150 L/day in cattle) to buffer the fermentation acids in the rumen.
| OX | Dental pad (pulvinus dentalis) occupies the upper incisor and canine region. Large torus linguae. Parotid gland is extensive. Soft palate is relatively short. |
| HORSE | Has upper incisors. The long soft palate makes the horse an obligate nasal breather. Vomiting is extremely difficult because of the powerful cardia/lower oesophageal sphincter, acute angle of oesophageal entry and associated stomach anatomy. |
| DOG | Has both upper and lower incisors. Soft palate is short. Vomiting reflex is well developed. |
Explore the hidden mechanics of why structures are present, absent or modified across domestic and wildlife species—and how each anatomical design supports movement, function and clinical practice.
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