DefinePK

Abstract

The one-humped camel has a socioeconomic importance in hot and dry environments of Central Asia and East and North Africa. Research on the camel eye morphology is scanty in the available literature. The present study is an attempt to provide basic gross anatomical information on the eye of dromedary camel to elucidate the presence of structural modifications suiting the harsh desert conditions. Fresh and 10% formalin fixed specimens from thirteen heads of adult camels of both sexes collected from Tambul slaughterhouse were used to study the eyeball and its associated structures. The orbit of the one-humped camel was circular, equidistant, completely osseous and markedly projecting laterally. The upper eyelid had long cilia and tuft of long cilia was situated dorsal to the medial canthus. The cilia of the lower eyelid were short and they gradually disappeared towards the lateral cantus. The lacrimal gland located craniodorsal to the eyeball just medial to zygomatic process of frontal bone. It was lobulated and its duct system lacks puncta lacrimalia. There was no choroidal tapetum. The sclera formed the largest part of the fibrous layer and the cornea-scleral junction was heavily black pigmented. The different measurements of the right and left eye showed no significant differences (P>0.05). As a result, some variations in the gross anatomy of the camel eye were revealed in the present study that there could be structural modifications to suit the harsh desert conditions.