Model of blood supply to the intestine of giant anteater

This research aimed to study the model of large intestine blood supply, which is dependent on the cranial mesenteric artery (AMCr) and caudal mesenteric artery (AMC), in six adults of Myrmecophaga tridactyla. The specimens were collected in accordance with the IBAMA standards (Brazilian Institute of the Environment) and were perfused with water (40°C), injected with colored latex, fixed in formaldehyde and preserved in alcohol solution (50%). The mesocolon is positioned in the median sagittal line and fixes the large intestine to the dorsal wall of the abdomen. The following is derived from the AMC: the cranial rectal artery, from 7 to 14 colic arteries and one or two ileocolic arteries, which present irrigation anastomosis with AMCr. The AMC finishes at the mesocolic edge of the bowel loop, generating straight colic branches from juxtacolic arcades, which penetrate the intimacy of longitudinal muscles. Arterial islands were observed along the AMC path and the ileocolic region showed higher vascular density. Key words: morphology, mesentery, arteries, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Xenarthra. Em seis animais adultos Myrmecophaga tridactyla estudou-se o modelo de suprimento sanguineo do intestino grosso, que e dependente das arterias mesenterica cranial (AMCr) e caudal (AMC). Os especimes coletados conforme as normas do IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis) foram perfundidos com agua (40°C), injetados com latex corado, fixados em formol e conservados em solucao alcoolica (50%). O mesocolon esta disposto na linha sagital mediana e fixa o intestino grosso a parede dorsal do abdome. Derivaram da AMC: a arteria retal cranial, sete a 14 arterias colicas e uma ou duas arterias ileocolicas, que apresentaram anastomoses de irrigacao com a AMCr. A AMC finaliza-se na borda mesocolica das alcas intestinais, emitindo ramos colicos retos a partir das arcadas justacolicas, que penetram na intimidade da musculatura longitudinal. Ao longo do trajeto da AMC foram observadas ilhas arteriais, e a regiao ileocolica apresentou maior densidade vascular. Palavras-chave: morfologia, mesenterio, arterias, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Xenarthra.