A morphological study of intrachondral articulations in the Korean water deer

Intrachondral articulations are the synovial joints that occur within costal cartilage in artiodactyls. The anatomical structure of Korean water deer differs from that of other deer. However, there have been no reports on the occurrence and shape of intrachondral articulations in the deer. To provide information on these articulations, we examined the occurrence and shape of intrachondral articulations in the Korean water deer by gross findings, radiography, computed tomography (CT), and histological observation. These joints often occur in the second to the tenth ribs. Morphologically, they are spheroidal joints, especially from the third to the eighth ribs, and their configuration is discernable in gross findings, radiography, CT, and histological sections. These basic results would be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the lateral thoracic wall of the Korean water deer.