[The topography of the organs of the thoracic cavity of the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius Linné 1758)].

With the aid of a juvenile Hippopotamus amphibius (L. 1758), the thorax and its organs has been examined under the macroscopic anatomic aspect. The description of the topography was the main subject. The present findings have been compared with the situation found in related domesticated mammalians (pig, ruminants). Several significant differences from those and similarities to other species were noticed. The appearance of the lung does not agree with the one of the severe divided lung in pigs and ruminants. It is more similar to the lung in horses as well as the thymus which here only consists of a thoracal part. The Nn. vagi don't divide into a dorsal and ventral branch. Because of this, their position is an extraordinary one in comparison to all domesticated mammalians. In addition to this, the N. phrenicus dexter diverts from the well known conditions due to its solitary course.