N. S. Ahmad, A. G. Mohammad Alhaaik and GH. A. Sultan
الملخص العربي
This study included morphological and morphometrical measurements of the
interdigital glands. Ten pairs of limbs of healthy male Awasi sheep and same number of
limbs of male black goats were used for this study. Interdigital gland present only in
Awasi sheep limbs, but found as small fatty sac in black goat limbs. The gland was
located at the level of fetlock joint, coma in shape and consist of three parts (bottom,
neck and excretory duct accompanied with clusters of hairs). The gland have color as
same as the hair in the around region. Histological study revealed that the gland is an
invagination from the skin, consist of epidermis, dermis and fibrous capsule. There is a
relationship between the thickness of the corneal layer and epidermis, so this layer was
higher in caudal limbs than cranial limbs. The size of sebaceous glands was higher in
caudal limbs than those in cranial limbs. There were primary and secondary hair
follicles specially in the base of the gland. There was inverse relationship between
number of primary follicles and the size of sebaceous glands. In vertical sections, the
arrector pilli muscle also present accompanied primary follicles. There were similar
number of sweat gland ducts with number of each primary follicle. The activity of the
acini of sweat glands were different in all studied area.