Anatomical and neurohistological observation of the heart of the jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica (Latham.).

Anatomy, histology and innervation of the heart of the jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica have been described. The cardiac conducting system is well developed except the atrioventricular node. The sinuatrial node is located at the cephalic end of the interatrial septum and comprised of a large number of specialised muscle fibres enclosing a few small nodal arteries. A few syncytial cells could also be observed. The atrioventricular node is small, rounded and compact mass present at the ventrocaudal end of the interatrial septum. The node is not enclosed by any connective tissue sheath. Atrioventricular bundle is quite conspicuous and a special left bundle branch descends from it and extending to the left ventricle. The presence of special left bundle branch probably helps in pumping the pure blood of left ventricle with a great force. The heart of the jungle bush quail is richly innervated. Large number of nerve fibres and ganglion cells are present at the sulcus terminalis and atrioventricular sulcus. Fine nerve fibres are also present in the mass of sinuatrial node, atrioventricular node, atrioventricular bundle and its branches. Nerve cells are found to be absent in the conducting system. A nervous connection exists between the sinuatrial node and atrioventricular node. Nerve fibres are also seen in the ventricular myocardium and at the sites of aortic arches.