Haemal nodes.

[VSS]

Just thought I'd post this photo of completely normal haemal nodes in the throat region of a fallow pricket, because I've often seen posts in the past from people worrying about what they are, whether the carcass is safe to eat, etc etc. Yes, it's safe to eat. They are normal.
You will also find them in other places inside the carcass, particularly along the midline.

 

[dryan]

Thought I’d add a pic around tenderloins of red deer

 

[User00056]

Great posts! I think it's really helpful to show what's normal, especially with something like this as it can be so variable. Just to add, these are part of the lymphatic system, and they filter blood for pathogens rather than contain clear lymphatic fluid

 

[JMikeyH]

Great posts! I think it's really helpful to show what's normal, especially with something like this as it can be so variable. Just to add, these are part of the lymphatic system, and they filter blood for pathogens rather than contain clear lymphatic fluid

If there is a pathogenic issue with the health of the deer, would you see these haemal nodes changed in any way?

 

[User00056]

If there is a pathogenic issue with the health of the deer, would you see these haemal nodes changed in any way?

Good question! Very rare to see any changes, in my own experience. I've never actually seen them look any different. I don't know for sure, but I imagine any health issue significant enough to cause visual changes would manifest itself in other, more obvious symptoms? @Buchan may be able to shed some light on the subject?

 

[VSS]

Good question! Very rare to see any changes, in my own experience. I've never actually seen them look any different. I don't know for sure, but I imagine any health issue significant enough to cause visual changes would manifest itself in other, more obvious symptoms? @Buchan may be able to shed some light on the subject?

I haven't ever seen them look any different either, even in sick animals.

 

[Oldstalker]

In the days when I used to run DSC courses I used to get the students to travel to the Cumbrian Veterinary Investigation, as they were then called, centre near Penrith where there was a wonderfully charismatic chief Vet called Andrew Holliman. Almost his first words to the students were," Recognise not just the normal, but the variation in the normal" when it comes to carcass inspection. These were truly wise words because there can be quite significant differences between carcasses of the same species and even of similar age within that. His enthusiasm for his subject was a bit like that of the TV presenter and botanist the late Professor David Bellamy - infectious (no pun intended) but their physical attributes could not be more different; Andrew was tall and rangy whereas David Bellamy was of average height and barrel chested.

 

[Cyres]

Excellent post great pictures.
D

 

[Buchan]

Good question! Very rare to see any changes, in my own experience. I've never actually seen them look any different. I don't know for sure, but I imagine any health issue significant enough to cause visual changes would manifest itself in other, more obvious symptoms? @Buchan may be able to shed some light on the subject?

I’ve not seen them with any changes which makes me wonder how they fit into the immune system, if not for antibody production. I’ll do some reading

 

[Dazb1967]

Just thought I'd post this photo of completely normal haemal nodes in the throat region of a fallow pricket, because I've often seen posts in the past from people worrying about what they are, whether the carcass is safe to eat, etc etc. Yes, it's safe to eat. They are normal.
You will also find them in other places inside the carcass, particularly along the midline.

I noticed these on a young Sika Hind I shot yesterday, I wasn't overly worried as I have seen them before but thanks for pointing out what they are, I'll see If I can get a pic in the morning.

 

[Buchan]

In the days when I used to run DSC courses I used to get the students to travel to the Cumbrian Veterinary Investigation, as they were then called, centre near Penrith where there was a wonderfully charismatic chief Vet called Andrew Holliman. Almost his first words to the students were," Recognise not just the normal, but the variation in the normal" when it comes to carcass inspection. These were truly wise words because there can be quite significant differences between carcasses of the same species and even of similar age within that. His enthusiasm for his subject was a bit like that of the TV presenter and botanist the late Professor David Bellamy - infectious (no pun intended) but their physical attributes could not be more different; Andrew was tall and rangy whereas David Bellamy was of average height and barrel chested.

What a great picture you paint! Andy was a quite exceptional pathologist and humna

 

[Buchan]

I’ve not seen them with any changes which makes me wonder how they fit into the immune system, if not for antibody production. I’ll do some reading

Google scholar and it seems to quote QI, "Nobody knows". They have no lymphatic drainage as mentioned earlier are mostly filled with blood, but seem to have the same distribution of white blood cells as you'd find in lymph nodes. Several papers mention "filtering of blood" but they are so small, I can't see them being efficient at that for, say, blood borne infections from parasites. My now view - they are an evolutionary blip, one of those things that are of no harm or benefit, so just continue being passed on. That they seem more common in young animals might suggest it's part of a developing immune system.

Could be a bit of research there, we could look for the presence of hemal nodes and compare it to the approximate age by teeth