Spinal nerve root origins of the cutaneous nerves of the canine pelvic limb

Abstract

The spinal nerve root origins of the cutaneous nerves innervating the canine pelvic limb were determined in 12 barbiturate-anesthetized, healthy dogs by stimulating the dorsal roots L1-S3 and recording the evoked-action potentials from each cutaneous nerve. The dogs were then euthanatized, identification of each dorsal root and cutaneous nerve was verified by dissection, and the type of lumbosacral plexus (prefixed, median fixed, or postfixed) was determined. With one exception, the dorsal cutaneous branches and lateral cutaneous branches of L1-L3 originated only from their corresponding spinal nerve roots. The genitofemoral nerve received afferent fibers predominantly from L3-L4 nerve roots. The lateral cutaneous femoral nerve originated from L3-L5 nerve roots, and the saphenous nerve from L4-L6 nerve roots. The proximal caudal cutaneous sural nerve originated from L6-S1. The lateral cutaneous sural nerve originated from L5-S1; the deep and superficial fibular nerves arose primarily from L6-L7. The distal caudal cutaneous sural nerve originated predominantly from L7-S1, and the medial cutaneous tarsal nerve originated from L6-S1. The medial plantar nerve originated predominantly from L6-S1 roots, whereas the lateral plantar nerve originated from L6-S2 roots. The middle clunial nerve received afferent fibers primarily from S1-S2; the caudal clunial nerve received fibers from S1-S3. The caudal cutaneous femoral nerve originated predominantly from L7-S2. The dorsal nerve of the penis originated predominantly from S1-S2, and the superficial perineal nerve originated from S1-S3. One dog had a prefixed plexus, 8 dogs had median-fixed plexuses, and 1 dog had a postfixed plexus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)