The arterial system of the abdominal viscera and the pelvis of the dormouse, Eliomys quercinus (Gliridae, Rodentia).

This paper deals with the origin, arrangement and variations of the abdominal and pelvic arteries in the garden dormouse, Eliomys quercinus. Fourteen latex-injected specimens (10 males, 4 females) were analysed by dissection. Measurements from the aortic bifurcation to the origin of the major arterial trunks were taken. The results obtained are compared with those reported for other myomorph rodents. The general arterial system of the dormouse basically agrees with the patterns observed in other rodent species. However, Eliomys quercinus shows some distinguishing features, such as the particular origin of the left and right gastric arteries, the distal arrangement of the deep circumflex iliac arteries, especially the right one, and the source of the medial femoral circumflex artery as a branch of the femoral artery.