ORIGEM E DISTRIBUIÇÃO INTRAPARENQUIMAL DA ARTÉRIA HEPÁTICA DO PREÁ (Galea spixii Wagler, 1831)

The Galea is a rodent from the Cavidae family. The aim of this study was to describe the intraparenchymal origin and distribuition of the galea hepatic artery considering the inexistence of information in the literature. Animals (n=20) from Centro de Multiplicacao de Animais Silvestres Mossoro-RN Brazil were evaluated after dying by natural causes. The animals were incised medially and the thoracic aorta was cannulated for injection of latex or vinyl. The animals perfused with latex were fixed in formaldehyde 10% and dissected after 72 hours. The ones perfused with vinyl acetate had their liver removed and immersed in a 30 % H 2 SO 4 solution until the complete corrosion of its parenchyma. It was observed that the hepatic artery in galea originates from the celiac artery and, along the way toward the liver, it sends off the gastroduodenal artery and then the right gastric artery, continuing as proper hepatic artery. This one is divided into right and left branches or sends off an intermediate branch. The left branch proved to be a common trunk to the vessels destined to the left lateral, left medial and square lobes. The right branch of the hepatic artery sends off branches to right lateral, right medial and caudate lobes. The origin and distribution patterns of the intraparenchymal hepatic artery in galea is similar to other rodents. KEYWORDS: Galea spixii ; hepatic artery; liver; rodent.