Transruminal palpation of abdominal arteries of the permanently fistulated dairy cow.

A description is given of the arteries within the abdominal cavity of the live permanently fistulated dairy cow which are palpated through the wall of the rumen. It is considered that transruminal palpation of arteries within the abdominal cavity of the live fistulated animal is a realistic aid to the teaching of veterinary anatomy after the student has performed the relevant routine dissection of the embalmed cadaver; and that this technique, as a method of instruction may complement rectal palpation of the live cow, where a majority of the branches of the celiac artery and the cranial mesenteric artery are not routinely within reach of the operator. The possibility of taking blood samples at any time from specified arteries supplying the ruminorecticulum and spleen in the fistulated dairy cow is considered.