ANATOMIC LOCATION OF THE CAROTID-BODY AND CAROTID-SINUS IN SHEEP AND GOATS

Sheep and goat heads were collected from a slaughter house and the bif urcation of the common carotid artery was preserved in 10% formalin so lution. Specimens were processed according to standard histologic tech nique and stained with different stains. Due to the absence of the int ernal carotid artery in adult sheep and goats, different theories were put forth by several researchers concerning the fate of the carotid b ody and carotid sinus in these animals. However, the carotid body was found close to the muscular branch of the occipital artery and was rep resented by either scattered cells or masses around the vessel. The si nus was at the base of the occipital artery in both species. Therefore , we can conclude that carotid body and carotid sinus developed at the se sites regardless of the presence or absence of the internal carotid artery.