Distribution of the mineralized tissues in the nasal ventral conchae (os conchae nasalis ventralis) of piglets after birth: relationship with atrophic rhinitis.

Serial undecalcified cross sections were examined in order to establish the distribution of calcified cartilage, woven and lamellar bones in the nasal ventral conchae of piglets aged between birth and six weeks. The distribution of the mineralized tissues varied according to the age of the piglets and to the level of cross sections. The nasal ventral conchae were found to arise from an ossification center located at the level of the second premolar tooth. A correlation between the distribution of the different mineralized tissues of the nasal ventral conchae and the distribution of the lesions of atrophic rhinitis in the nasal ventral conchae as well as the receptivity period of piglets to the disease as observed in the literature have been discussed.