The Bronchial Tree, Lobular Division and Blood Vessels of the Masked Palm Civet (Paguma larvata) Lung

Abstract

The right lung of the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) consists of the cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes. The left lung has no cranial and accessory lobes and has a bilobed middle and caudal lobes. On either side, there are four bronchiole systems, i.e. dorsal, lateral, ventral and medial. The right cranial lobe is formed by the first bronchiole of the dorsal bronchiole system. However, this bronchiole arises from the right lateral side of the trachea, the so-called tracheal bronchus (bronchiole). The right middle lobe is formed by the first bronchiole of the lateral bronchiole system, and the right accessory lobe is formed by the first bronchiole of the ventral bronchiole system. The remaining bronchioles of the dorsal, lateral and ventral bronchiole systems and a bronchiole of the medial bronchiole system constitute the right caudal lobe. In the left lung, the left middle lobe is formed by the first bronchiole of the lateral bronchiole system. This bronchiole divides into two branches, each of which forms a lobule. The remaining bronchioles constitute the left caudal lobe as in the right lung. The branches of pulmonary arteries mostly run along the dorsal or lateral side of bronchioles. The pulmonary veins run the ventral or medial side of bronchioles and between the bronchioles.