NUCLEAR-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE IMAGING AS A TOOL TO ESTIMATE THE MASS OF THE PECTORALIS-MUSCLE OF CHICKENS IN-VIVO

1. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess the adv antages of the technique in determining the size (volume) and shape of the Pectoralis muscle (Pectoralis major and minor) in broiler chicken s, non-invasively and in vivo. 2. The imaging was performed using a Sp ectroscopy Imaging System 2.0 Tesla/31 cm bore imaging spectrometer. T hree-dimensional reconstruction of transverse images was used to estim ate the size of the Pectoralis muscle of chickens ranging in body weig ht from 362 to 1643 g. 3. Regression analysis resulted in R-2 values o f 0.92 and 0.99 for the relationship between Pectoralis muscle weight, body weight and muscle volume, respectively. 4. It is concluded that MRI and 3-dimensional image reconstruction may be used to estimate the Pectoralis muscle size and shape. This may be readily extended to mon itor the influence of various factors on the growth and development of specific organs and tissues in the body.