Northeast (NE) India’s rural economy is mainly reliant on pig farming. Indigenous pig breed of Mizoram, known as Zovawk is dispersed in different parts of Mizoram, India. Since all of the tribes of Mizoram eat pork, pigs are among the most prized and well-liked livestock (Mayengbam et al., 2014). Zovawk has a black body coat with white boots, white spots on the abdomen and forehead. They have long bristles on the midline, concave top line, pot belly, erect ears and concave nose. Males’ weight is 54 kg on average, while females’ weight is 59 kg (Vanlalrozami et al., 2018). It is generally believed that the ancestors of Zovawk were wild pigs of the East and South East Asian countries.
       
In India, wild pig (Sus scrofa) resembles domestic pig. Adult wild pigs have thick crests of stiff, coarse black and brindle hair that extend down the back from nape. Male adults have fully developed canines (tushes) in both the upper and lower jaws. Its teeth are proportionately small, nasal bones are short and its dorsal edge of the skull was flat rather than concave. Indian wild pigs are legally protected by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 (Choudhary et al., 2017).
       
Literature available on the head region of Zovawk and wild pig and its clinical implications during regional anesthesia is scanty. Therefore, the present study was done to compare the applied anatomical, radiographical and computed tomography on the head region of Zovawk and wild pig.

A total of 6 adult head samples (3 heads of Zovawk and 3 heads of wild pig) regardless of sex were collected for the present study. They were collected from Livestock Farm Complex, local slaughterhouses and Khawruhlian village. All the procedures involving sample collection were conducted as per the guidelines of Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC), for the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram.
       
Heads were separated from the body by disarticulating the occipito-atlantal joint. Removal of the skin and dissection of the muscles were done. The maceration of the sample was performed as per the method by Savitri et al., (2023). After maceration, the skull bones were cleaned thoroughly and bleached in 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for three days in a sealed container to remove the unpleasant odour and to make the bones appear brighter. After that the bones were rinsed thoroughly with clean running tap water and dried for the study. For the measurement Accurate orientation of computed tomographic (CT) images was obtained for cross-sectional anatomical study. For cross- sectional anatomical study, fresh heads of Zovawk were collected. The specimens were thoroughly cleaned with water and stored at -20°C until completely frozen (Nomir et al., 2024). Following solidification, the heads were processed for sectional anatomy at different anatomical planes. Sections were cut using an electrical band saw at transverse and sagittal sections (Kyllar et al., 2014). Transverse sections were taken at the level of the first incisor tooth, interalveolar space, first and second premolar teeth, second and third molar teeth and temporomandibular joint. A sagittal section was cut along the median plane. 
       
For applied anatomical studies the following mandible parameters measurement are shown in (Fig 2A and D) and are described below.
 
a) Lateral alveolar root to mental foramen
 
The distance between the lateral extent of the lower incisor’s alveolar root and the mental foramen.
 
b) Mandibular foramen to base of mandible
 
The vertical line connecting the ventral limit of the mandibular foramen to the base of the mandible.
 
c) Maximum mandibular length
 
Distance from the level of the of the cranial extremity of the alveolar root of the incisor to the level of the caudal border of the mandible.
 
d) Maximum mandibular height
 
Distance from the basal level of the mandible to the highest level of coronoid process.
 
e) Caudal border of mandible to below mandibular foramen
 
The distance from the caudal most border of the mandible to the vertical line formed by describing the measurement of the mandibular foramen to the base of the mandible.
       
The measurements of the above parameters were measured using a digital vernier caliper, thread and measuring scale (Choudhary et al., 2017).
       
Radiographic was carried out at Trinity Hospital, Silaimual, Melthum Kawn, Aizawl, Mizoram with the help of Allengers DR System X-ray machine (500 mA) and computed tomographic scanning was performed by 128 Slice Revolution EVO GE Health Care Machine (600 mA) at the same hospital.
       
The comparative applied anatomical, radiographic and computed tomographic studies were carried out in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram. The research was conducted during the period of January 2025 to December 2025.

Applied anatomical studies
 
The present study revealed that the infraorbital foramen was located on the lateral surface of the maxilla. In Zovawk, it was positioned above the level of the third or fourth premolar tooth (Fig 1A), whereas in the wild pig it was consistently situated above the fourth premolar tooth (Fig 1B). Similar positional relationships of the infraorbital foramen have been reported by Okandeji et al., (2023) and Nickel et al., (1986) in pigs. However, Kalita et al., (2015) observed that in the pygmy hog, the infraorbital foramen was palpable approximately two finger breadths above the second cheek tooth. In carnivores, the infraorbital foramen was situated above the level of the third premolar tooth, as reported in tiger by Joshi (2004) and in dog by Pachauri (2024). From an applied anatomical perspective, precise knowledge of location of the infraorbital foramen was essential for the effective administration of infraorbital nerve blocks, particularly during dental procedures, maxillofacial surgeries and treatment of facial wounds. Awareness of species-specific variation helps clinicians ensures adequate regional anesthesia of the upper lip, nostril and cheek in veterinary practice. The external opening of the alveolar canal appeared as a small foramen on the rostral aspect of the infraorbital foramen and was more distinctly developed in wild pig (Fig 1D) than in Zovawk (Fig 1C), as reported by Doley et al., (2018).


       
The facial tuberosity was absent in the present breeds of animals, similar to findings reported in tiger by Joshi (2004). Additionally, Lade et al., (2024) reported that the facial tuberosity was located at the level of the third cheek tooth in both male chital and sambar deer, while in Indian mithun it was positioned above the third upper premolar tooth (Choudhary et al., 2022). The prominence of the alveolar canal opening was clinically relevant during infraorbital and maxillary nerve block procedures, as well as during tooth extraction and surgical manipulation of the maxilla, where inadvertent damage to the alveolar nerve and vessels must be avoided. The medial surface of the mandible was flattened, with the mandibular foramen located near its midpoint in Zovawk (Fig 2A) and in wild pig (Fig 2B), showing as the posterior opening of the mandibular canal for the passage of the mandibular artery, vein and inferior alveolar (mandibular alveolar) nerve. Anteriorly, the mandibular canal terminated at the mental foramina. In Zovawk, two mental foramina were observed (Fig 2C), whereas three mental foramina were present in the wild pig (Fig 2D), indicating species-specific variation in mandibular neurovascular openings.


       
In Zovawk, the distance from the lateral alveolar root to the mental foramen measured 4.39±0.28 cm, whereas a shorter distance of 3.29±0.33 cm was recorded in wild pigs (Fig 2D). Similarly, Kumar (2017) reported that the distance between the lateral end of the alveolus of the third incisor tooth and the mental foramen was 4.02±0.11 cm in blue bull. In the one-humped camel, Monfared (2013) documented a distance of 4.74 cm from the lateral alveolar root to the cranial mental foramen. The present data can act as essential clinical landmarks for performing mental nerve blocks and local infiltration anesthesia involving the lower lip and chin. 
       
The distance between mandibular foramen to base of mandible in Zovawk and wild pig (Fig 2A) was 5.24±0.17 cm and 7.49±0.10 cm, respectively. In the dromedary camel, the distance between from the mandibular foramen to the base of the mandible was 8.84±0.085 cm (Debbarma et al., 2026). With respect to mandibular dimensions, the mandibular height in Zovawk and wild pig was measured as 10.60±0.12 cm and 16.30±0.26 cm, respectively, while the corresponding mandibular lengths were 24.13±0.60 cm in Zovawk and 32.62±0.38 cm in wild pig. Pachauri (2024) reported a mandibular height of 13.97±0.34 cm and the height at the condyle measuring 2.65±0.11 cm in mongrel dog. Choudhary et al., (2015) recorded a mandibular length of 16.53±0.13 cm and a mandibular height of 10.69±0.02 cm in blackbuck. The species-specific mandibular morphometry was essential for radiographic interpretation, forensic identification and comparative anatomical studies in veterinary practice.
       
The distance from the caudal border of the mandible to a point directly below the mandibular foramen measured 3.83±0.22 cm in Zovawk and 6.91±0.31 cm in wild pig (Fig 2A). Comparable measurements were reported in the dromedary camel (5.88±0.055 cm) by Choudhary et al., (2016) and in the Malayan sun bear (4.17 cm) by Kalita et al., (2019).
 
Radiography study
 
Dorsoventral radiographic examination of the skull in Zovawk and wild pig revealed an elongated and of  dolichocephalic skull type (Fig 3). Similar cranial conformations have been reported by Kyllar et al., (2014) in pigs and by Keneisenuo (2020) in sambar deer. In contrast, the skull of the beagle dog was described as mesaticephalic (Wilson et al., 2025), while a brachycephalic skull type was documented in tiger (Joshi, 2004). The nasal cavity was distinctly visualized and was clearly divided into two compartments by a well-defined nasal septum (Fig 3), consistent with observations reported by Masoudifard et al., (2008) in sheep and by Ramswarup (2011) in chital. Supraorbital foramen canal (Fig 3J) was clearly identifiable, which corresponds with the radiographic findings described by Kyllar et al., (2014) in pigs. However, the supraorbital foramen had been reported to be absent in the African lion (Mohamed, 2019). The cranial cavity was distinctly visualized and the foramen magnum was positioned caudoventrally (Fig 3G) that corresponds with observations reported by Kumar et al., (2024) in blue bull. The nasal turbinate bones were clearly visualized, consistent with observation reported Kyllar et al., (2014) in pigs and by Masoudifard et al., (2008) in sheep. Other cranial structures such as the nasal bones, tympanic bulla, paracondyloid process, premolar and molar teeth (Fig 3 and 4) were distinctly identified, which corresponds with the radiographic findings described by Keneisenuo (2020) in barking deer. Alveoli for the canine and cheek teeth were present, comparable to observations reported by Joshi (2004) in the tiger. However, a distinct groove for the canine tooth was absent, which was consistent with reports (Ramakumar et al., 1983) in bovines, (Kumar et al., 1992) in goat. The maxillary sinuses were also clearly visible (Fig 4E), comparable to observations reported by Kyllar et al., (2014) in pigs. The mandibular canal (Fig 4U) was clearly evident and was seen to be continuous with the mental foramina (Fig 4V). Comparable mandibular radiographic features have also been described in dog by Pachauri (2024), indicating similarity in mandibular radiographic anatomy across species.




 
Computed tomography
 
Computed tomographic (CT) imaging clearly demonstrated the elongated nasal cavity, nasal concha (Fig 6G), nasal septum (Fig 5A) and the bony structures forming the roof and floor of the nasal cavity, consistent with observations reported by Kyllar et al., (2014) in pigs. Division of the nasal cavity into distinct nasal meatuses (Fig 5C and G) closely resembled the anatomical arrangement described by Tohidifar et al., (2020) in saanen goats.  Various paranasal sinuses were clearly visualized, including the frontal sinus, which was divided into the medial rostral frontal sinus (Fig 5H and Fig 6D), lateral rostral frontal sinus (Fig 6C and D) and caudal frontal sinus (Fig 6D and G), as well as the maxillary sinus (Fig 6D) and sphenoidal sinus (Fig 6C). These findings were consistent with the observations reported by Nomir et al., (2024) in Zebu cattle and by Kyllar et al., (2014) in pigs. Left and right frontal sinuses were completely separated by a thick bony septum (Fig 6E), a feature similarly described in donkeys (Gendy and Alsafy, 2010), blue bull (Kumar, 2017) and chital (Ramswarup, 2011), indicating a conserved anatomical pattern among these two breeds.

The present investigation provides a comprehensive account on the comparative applied anatomical, radiographic and computed tomographic anatomy of the skull and mandible in Zovawk and wild pig. Distinct interbreed variations were observed in the position of the infraorbital and mental foramina, number of mental foramina, mandibular dimensions and clinically important linear measurements. These variations are of considerable applied significance, particularly for infraorbital, mental and inferior alveolar nerve block procedures, dental and maxillofacial surgeries, fracture management and radiographic interpretation. Radiographic examination confirmed the elongated skull type and enabled visualization of major cranial and mandibular structures, including the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, cranial cavity, zygomatic arch, foramen magnum, mandibular foramina and canal. The anatomical baseline data generated in this study will be useful for veterinary clinicians, surgeons, radiologists and anatomists which may help in reference for future comparative, veterinary clinical, surgical practice and forensic studies involving between the two animal breeds.

Authors are thankful to the Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Aizawl, Mizoram for providing the necessary facilities and institutional support to carry out this research work. I am deeply grateful to the faculty members of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy for their valuable guidance, constant encouragement and technical assistance throughout the study.

Authors have declared they have no conflict of interest. No known competing financial interests or non-financial interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.