Original Research

The spinal nerves that constitute the lumbosacral plexus and their distribution in the chinchilla

M. A. Martinez-Pereira, E. M. Rickes
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 82, No 3 | a53 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v82i3.53 | © 2011 M. A. Martinez-Pereira, E. M. Rickes | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 April 2011 | Published: 13 April 2011

About the author(s)

M. A. Martinez-Pereira, Neuroscience Post-graduate Program and Comparative Neurobiology Laboratory, Physiology Department, Health Basic Science Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, 90046-900., Brazil
E. M. Rickes, Parasitology Post-graduate Programme, Biology Institute, Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil., Brazil

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Abstract

In this study, the spinal nerves that constitute the lumbosacral plexus (plexus lumbosacrales) (LSP) and its distribution in Chinchilla lanigera were investigated. Ten chinchillas (6 males and 4 females) were used in this research. The spinal nerves that constitute the LSP were dissected and the distribution of pelvic limb nerves originating from the plexus was examined. The iliohypogastric nerve arose from L1 and L2,, giving rise to the cranial and caudal nerves, and the ilioinguinal nerve arose from L3. The other branch of L3 gave rise to the genitofemoral nerve and 1 branch from L4 gave rise to the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve. The trunk formed by the union of L4–5 divided into medial (femoral nerve) and lateral branches (obturator nerve). It was found that the LSP was formed by all the ventral branches of L4 at L6 and S1 at S3. At the caudal part of the plexus, a thick branch, the ischiadic plexus, was formed by contributions from L5–6 and S1. This root gave rise to the nerve branches which were disseminated to the posterior limb (cranial and caudal gluteal nerves, caudal cutaneous femoral nerve and ischiadic nerve). The ischiadic nerve divided into the caudal cutaneous surae, lateral cutaneous surae, common fibular and tibial nerve. The pudendal nerve arose from S1–2 and the other branch of S2 and S3 formed the rectal caudal nerve. The results showed that the origins and distribution of spinal nerves that constitute the LSP of chinchillas were similar to those of a few rodents and other mammals.

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