BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the normal appearance of 
the bony and soft tissue structures of the stifle joint of a Bengal tiger 
(Panthera tigris) by low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the use of 
gross anatomical dissections performed as anatomical reference. A cadaver of a 
mature female was imaged by MRI using specific sequences as the Spin-echo (SE) 
T1-weighting and Gradient-echo (GE) STIR T2-weighting sequences in sagittal, 
dorsal and transverse planes, with a magnet of 0.2 Tesla. The bony and articular 
structures were identified and labelled on anatomical dissections, as well as on 
the magnetic resonance (MR) images.
RESULTS: MR images showed the bone, articular cartilage, menisci and ligaments 
of the normal tiger stifle. SE T1-weighted sequence provided excellent 
resolution of the subchondral bones of the femur, tibia and patella compared 
with the GE STIR T2-weighted MR images. Articular cartilage and synovial fluid 
were visualised with high signal intensity in GE STIR T2-weighted sequence, 
compared with SE T1-weighted sequence where they appeared with intermediate 
intensity signal. Menisci and ligaments of the stifle joint were visible with 
low signal intensity in both sequences. The infrapatellar fat pad was 
hyperintense on SE T1-weighted images and showed low signal intensity on GE STIR 
T2-weighted images.
CONCLUSIONS: MRI provided adequate information of the bony and soft tissues 
structures of Bengal tiger stifle joints. This information can be used as 
initial anatomic reference for interpretation of MR stifle images and to assist 
in the diagnosis of diseases of this region.