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Background: Sloths of the species Bradypus variegatus are mammals with peculiar habits, which feed mostly young leaves of 'embaúba' and occur broadly in Central and South America. This specie has the greatest occurrence in Brazilian Northeast, making it a biological model for several researches in the fields as anatomy, physiology, genetics, pathology, histology and ecology, which provide data to literature in order to benefit maintenance and preservation of these animals. This study aimed to describe unpublished data about small and large intestine anatomy of the sloth Bradypus variegatus, in order to collaborate for knowledge of its digestive processes. Materials, Methods & Results: In order to perform this present research, 10 corpses of specie Bradypus variegatus belonged to the acquis of Anatomy Division, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology (DMFA); Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), with 5 males and 5 females, the study was authorized by Animal Use and Experimentation Ethic Committee license (CEUA-UFRPE), n° 034/2015. All 10 animals used had natural death, were obtained through a donation of CETAS Tangará (Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres - Wildlife Screening Center), and located in the city of Recife. Animals were dissected at abdominal and pelvic portion, from a median sagittal incision, followed by lateral folding of skin, muscle and withdrawal of pubis portion for exposition and description of intestines, with analysis of syntopy and measurement of these organs. A relation was observed among external holes of urinary, reproductive and digestive systems. A relation was still observed among intestines and stomach, liver, kidneys, bladder and abdominal cavity wall. Some animals had absence of sigmoid colon, ventral and dorsal descendent colon. Regarding measurement, small intestine ranged from 147.09 to 163.59 cm for males and 117.44 to 151.28 cm for females, while large intestine varied between 39.68 and 43.35 cm for males, and 33.19 and 44.47 cm for females. Urinary and reproductive systems had a same external hole at perineal portion for both gender. Whereas digestive system ended at anus as occur commonly among mammals. Discussion: Among specimens described, most had the same anatomic profile regarding the intestinal portions and syntopy performed over other abdominal cavity organs. A difference was observed on liver size, increment of 20% for females and males sampled, excluding animals that had absence of structure that were minority, once 40% of females had no ventral descending colon, 20% of males and females had no sigmoid colon, and 20% of males had no dorsal descending colon. However, some animals that had absence demonstrated increase of other adjacent structures, for example, male that had no dorsal descending colon developed the largest sigmoid colon observed among animals measured for portions of duodenum, ventral descending colon, ascending colon and dorsal descending colon. Regarding the measurement of small and large intestine, Bradypus variegatus had differences compared to other herbivores, what suggests that this fact is associated to a restricted diet, in which that animal is submitted. Because of literature shortage about digestive system of specie Bradypus variegatus and other species of wild animals in general, it still difficult to infer or plot more accurate affirmations about this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of the study was a qualitative anatomical analysis of the macroscopic features of the surface of the calcaneal tuberosity, of the architecture of its cancellous bone and histological structure of the whole region. Dry human bones and pathological dissection material 24–36h post mortem were used in the study. On the tuberosity, the variability of its surface relief and the two borders between the superior, middle and inferior facets were studied. More frequent medial declination of the inferior line, corresponding to the distal circumference of the Achilles tendon attachment, was found. Two systems of expressive condensation of cancellous bone just below the surface of the calcaneal tuberosity were described. In the histological part of the study, the distribution and different thickness of the fibrous cartilage layer covering the attachment region of Achilles tendon, the bottom of retrocalcaneal bursa and the whole surface of the calcaneal tuberosity were described. The functional and clinical relevance of results obtained are evaluated from the point of view of disciplines dealing with the pathology and surgery of the heel region. The relationships of official anatomical terms and a wide spectrum of clinical synonyms designating this region are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]