Guttural Pouch Anatomy

The equine guttural pouch.

Guttural pouch anatomy.

There are two guttural pouches one on each side that are located just below the ear in the throatlatch region figure 1. It is an extension of the eustachian tube which is an air filled canal that connects the throat to the middle ear. They are paired bilaterally just below the ears behind the skull and connect to the nasopharynx. Guttural pouch empyema in horses.

1 they are found in perissodactyls such as equids tapirs some species of rhinoceros except for the white rhinoceros some bats a south american forest mouse and hyraxes. Due to the general inaccessibility of the pouches in horses they can be an area of infection by fungi and bacteria and these infections can be extremely severe and hard to treat. The guttural pouch is a unique structure found in horses and only a few other species. The guttural pouch is a structure found only in equine species.

They are present in odd toed mammals some bats hyraxes and the american forest mouse. Guttural pouches are large auditory tube diverticula that contain between 300 and 600 ml of air. The significance of the guttural pouch lies in the fact that it is a hollow air filled structure that communicates with the throat every time the horse swallows. The guttural pouches have important anatomical relationships with other neighboring structures particularly the retropharyngeal lymph node vascular and nervous elements.

The condition guttural pouch tympa. It is an outpouching of the eustachian tube the tube that connects the ears to the nose and mouth and helps to regulate air pressure. Guttural pouches are paired extensions of the eustachian tubes that connect the pharynx to the middle ear. The medial compartment is on the left side of the image.

The infection usually develops subsequent to a bacterial primarily streptococcus spp infection of the upper respiratory tract. Guttural pouches are of interest to both veterinarians and horse owners as they contain a number of important structures. Clinically relevant anatomy and basic treatment options for trauma. Arteries such as the internal carotid artery and several cranial nerves.

This communication with the throat allows the important nerves and arteries to come into contact with potential pathogens in the form of bacteria and fungi. Empyema of guttural pouch horse radiograph courtesy of dr. Palm beach equine clinic wellington florida usa. Endoscopic anatomy of a normal guttural pouch.