MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE ANASTOMOSING ARTERIOLAR NETWORK IN CAT SARTORIUS MUSCLE

Topological and geometrical characteristics of the anastomotic arterio lar network in cat sartorius muscle were studied. The vessels were dil ated and filled with gelatin-ink solution and the muscle cleared with methylsalicylate. The analysis was done on 11 muscles and included 229 7 vascular segments and 772 vascular loops classified according to the ir position within the network. On average, each muscle had 644 transv erse arterioles arising from the anastomotic vessels. The length of va scular segments close to feeding arteries was greater than those locat ed in the central region, while the number of transverse arterioles pe r unit length of arcade vessel showed an opposite tendency. Most vesse l orders had similar diameters, except for the segments at the periphe ry of the muscle, which were significantly larger. No correlation was found between vessel length and diameter. Vascular loops located in th e central part of the network were smaller, as assessed by area, perim eter, number of segments, segment length and number of branches. The v ariability of the parameters between muscles was smaller than variabil ity within each muscle. We concluded that, in addition to the paramete rs previously reported, quantitative descriptions of anastomotic netwo rks may be enhanced by considering certain topological aspects of micr ovessels. The separation of segments and loops according to the positi on in the network may reveal differences between muscles of different sizes and functions which would not be detected if the vessels were co nsidered as a single group.