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THE ACROMION IN PIETRAIN SOW

Article · January 2011

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Agnieszka Dudek Aleksander Chrószcz

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 Acta Sci. Pol., Medicina Veterinaria 10 (2) 2011, 17-22
ISSN 1644–0676 (print) ISSN 2083–8670 (on-line)

THE ACROMION IN PIETRAIN SOW1

Agnieszka Dudek1, Aleksander Chrószcz2, Maciej Janeczek2,

Waldemar Sienkiewicz1, Marcin Zawadzki2, Norbert Pospieszny2
1
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
2
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Abstract. The acromion in the Pietrain sow is described. This anatomical structure occurred
in both, right and left scapula. Accessible literature lacks of information about acromion in
the Pietrain pig. The comparative anatomy and veterinary anatomy textbooks state absence
of this structure in Suidae. The described case indicates the possibility of this morphologi-
cal variation also in suide. Probably, this anatomical formation occurrence is linked with
strong development of shoulder girdle muscles and muscles of arm.

Key words: pig, acromion, scapula, anatomy, suidae

INTRODUCTION

The acromion is an anatomical structure occurred in distal part of spina scapulae. The
process existence and its development level is correlated with clavicle occurrence. The
acromion is reduced or does not exist in aclavicularia. All classical and modern accessi-
ble textbooks of comparative anatomy and veterinary anatomy textbooks state the lack of
acromion in Suidae [1, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 23]. In the pig, spina of the scapulae subsides
distally. Probably, the Pietrain pigs are results of Yorkshire and Bayeux pigs crossbre-
eding [10, 13, 14]. In this paper, the bilaterally acromion in Pietrain sow is described.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The investigations were made on Pietrain sow eight years old. The cause of the death
were after birth complications. The body was bought by Department of Anatomy for di-
dactic porpoise. The skeleton was prepared and macerated. As a results the acromion in
both scapulas was found. The scapulas were described and morphometry was done. The
photographic documentation was made in comparison with Polish White Landrace and
Duroc pig’s scapulas.
© Copyright by Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy we Wrocławiu
Corresponding author – Adres do korespondencji: Agnieszka Dudek, Department of Anatomy, Uni-
versity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 14, 10-718 Olsztyn
18 A. Dudek in.

RESULTS

The morphology of the both scapulas was the same. The shape of scapulas was typical
for this bone. The spina of scapulae (spina scapulae) occurred in the lateral surface (facies
lateralis) of bone. It divided this surface into supraspinosus and infraspinosus fossa (fossa
supra- et infraspinata). The spina of scapulae was caudally slant. In the 1/3 proximal part
of spina, the significant tuber of the spina scapulae occurred (tuber spinae scapulae). The
distal end of the spina of the scapulae had very large and distinct process- acromion (Fig.
1 and 2). The acromion was directed ventrally and cranially. The morphometrical measu-
rements are presented in table no.1.

Fig. 1. The right scapula of the Pietrain sow. A – acromion

Ryc. 1. Prawa łopatka lochy rasy Pietrain. A – wyrostek barkowy

Fig. 2. The left scapula of Pietrain sow. A – acromion

Fig. 2. Lewa łopatka lochy rasy Pietrain. A – wyrostek barkowy

Acta Sci. Pol.

The acromion in pietrain sow 19

Table 1. Measurements of the scapula (mm)

Tabela 1. Pomiary łoptek (mm)

maximal length maximal length

minimal lenght
of the spina of the articular
of the scapula width of the
scapulae diagonal lenght process
neck glenoid cavity
największa długość największa
najmniejsza szerokość
długość grzbietowa długość
długość szyjki panewki łopatki
grzebienia wyrostka
łopatki
łopatki stawowego
right 245,29 230,57 39,74 56,94 36,96
prawa
left 245,90 231,04 39,86 57,23 35,55
lewa

DISCUSSION

The Pietrain breed is used in pig farming for crossbreeding to improve meat quality
[10, 13, 14]. The anatomical structures of scapula are the origin points for the girdle
muscles and therefore they are important for the musculature development and growth
affecting meat production. The Pietrain breed came into being in Belgium in 1950–1951
and it is characterized by strong shoulder girdle muscles development, together with short
legs, stockier in build and quire broad along the back [2]. Deltoid muscle (musculus
deltoideus), one of the thoracic limb muscles, finds the insertion points on acromion in
ruminants and carnivores [11, 12, 16]. It is possible, the stronger postnatal development
of above-mentioned muscle in Pietrains could provoke an extraordinary bone formation
in the acromion region of scapula as its insertion.
The scapula is only one fully developed, existing part of the shoulder girdle in the
domestic mammals. Primary in reptilians and birds, the acromion served as the part of ar-
ticular connection with clavicle and it’s morphology could be various [15]. Similar func-
tion was observed in humans [3]. More detailed anthropological investigations proved
the os acromiale existence as an accessory bone resulting from the acromial apophysis
dysfunction during scapular fusion [4]. In animals, without a clavicle existence, the acro-
mion is partly or totally reduced [18]. All accessible comparative anatomy and veterinary
anatomy textbooks give no proof of acromion existence in pig. Simultaneously, acromion
exists in ruminants and carnivores as a more or less reduced structure [1, 9, 11, 12, 16,
18, 20, 23]. Probably, the acromion morphology must be strongly linked to the shoulder
muscles structure and partition. Moreover especially in cats, the quite large pronation/su-
pination and other movements of the thoracic limb can be the cause of the hamate process
development. Similar assumptions in Promates introduced Soligo and Mueller [21]. Case
at al. [4] proved the os acromiale existence as a combination of genetic predisposition and
mechanical stress. Sammarco [19] observed persistent acromial apophysis in humans, but
it usually fused with scapula in ca. 21 years old individuals. It seems to be true, the large
thoracic limb movements provoke larger acromion formations in cats and, from the other
hand, the genetic heritage can explain its existence in ruminants.
This paper presents the anatomical description of bilaterally arcomion existence in the
Pietrain sow. Similar to domestic pig anatomy, the archaeozoological findings lack of any
acromion evidence in skeletal remains of the domestic pig and wild boar skeleton [5, 6,

Medicina Veterinaria 10 (2) 2011

20 A. Dudek in.

7, 8, 10, 20, 22]. Its means, this anatomical structure cannot be not defined as the wild an-
cestor’s morphological remnant. The acromion existence can be described as a very rare
anatomical variation in pig scapula and probably potential results of intentional cross-
breeding. The Pietrains are known as strong developed thoracic girdle muscles pigs, thus
acromion is more significant structure than in other pigs’ breeds.
The accessible literature lacks of further informations on Pietrain pig scapula morpho-
logy. It is impossible to state any morphological generalizations on the base of only one
individual, but this case proves the potential possibility of the acromion existence in swi-
nes. The acromion occurrence in the pig skeleton is interesting for comparative anatomy
and it should be studied wider in the future.

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 The acromion in pietrain sow 21

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WYROSTEK BARKOWY (acromion)

U LOCHY RASY PIETRAIN

Streszczenie. W pracy opisano przypadek wystąpienia wyrostka barkowego u lochy

rasy Pietrain. Wyrostek barkowy występował zarówno w lewej, jak i w prawej łopatce.
W dostępnym piśmiennictwie anatomicznym nie ma jakichkolwiek informacji na temat
obecności tej struktury anatomicznej u świń. Podręczniki z zakresu anatomii porównawczej
i anatomii weterynaryjnej podają, że wyrostek barkowy nie występuje u suidae. Opisany
przypadek wskazuje jednak na możliwość wystąpienia tej struktury także u świniowatych.
Być może jest to związane ze szczególnie silnym rozwojem mięśni obręczy kończyny pier-
siowej i okolicy ramienia u tej rasy świń.

Słowa klucze: świnia, wyrostek barkowy, łopatka, anatomia, suidae

Zaakceptowano do druku – Accepted for print: 30.06.2011

Do cytowania – For citation: Dudek A., Chrószcz A., Janeczek M., Sienkiewicz W.,
Zawadzki M., Pospieszny N., 2011. The acromion in pietrain sow. Acta Sci. Pol. Med.
Vet., 10 (2), 17–22.

Medicina Veterinaria 10 (2) 2011

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