DESCRIÇÃO DE NERVOS DOS PLEXOS LOMBAR E SACRAL EM BICHO-PREGUIÇA-DE-GARGANTA-MARROM (Bradypus variegatus, SCHINZ, 1825)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphology of femoral, obturator, cranial gluteal, ischiatic and caudal gluteal nerves, components of the lumbosacral plexus, in brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus). Seven animals, with unknown death causes, were donate by Wild Animals Triage Center (CETAS-IBAMA/Cabedelo) and by Paranaense Museum Emílio Goeldi and dissected., Studied nerves originated from ventral branches of the spinal nerves between L1 and S3, the femoral nerve was formed by branches from L1 to L3 nerves, obturator nerve by L2 and L3 nerves, cranial gluteal by L3 to S1 branches, ischiatic nerve by L4 to S2 nerves and caudal gluteal nerve was originated by branches from S2 and S3 nerves. The muscles innervated by these nerves were tensor muscle of fascia lata, sartorius, femoral quadriceps, gracilis, internal and external obturator, adductor, pectineal, semimembranous, deep gluteal, middle gluteal, superficial gluteal, biceps femoris, semitendinous, in addition to skin. The origin of femoral, obturator, cranial gluteal, ischiatic and caudal gluteal nerves were different when compared to other wild species and domestic animals; on the other hand, the muscular distribution of the nerve branches was similar to that observed in other wild and domestic species.