Limb Nerves & Blood Vessels

Question 1

What are the parent supply arteries of the forelimb?

Answer 1

L aorta
R aorta -> brachiocephalic artery
THEN
subclavian -> axillary -> brachial -> median

Question 2

List palpable pulses in the forelimb.

Answer 2

brachial artery (medial brachium)
median artery (disto-medial antebrachium)
superficial palmar artery (palmar paw)

Question 3

What vein branches drain the cranial/caudal antebrachial muscles?

Answer 3

collateral ulnar

superficial brachial

Question 4

Draw a schematic of the arteries of the forelimb.

Answer 4

add picture

Question 5

What are the major forelimb veins?

Answer 5

cephalic
accessory cephalic
median conical 
brachial 
axillary & axillobrachial

Question 6

Draw a schematic of the veins of the forelimb.

Answer 6

add picture

Question 7

List the arteries of the pelvic limb in order.

Answer 7

aorta -> external iliacs -> femoral -> cranial tibial & saphenous -> dorsal pedal artery

Question 8

Draw a schematic of the arteries of the hindlimb.

Answer 8

add photo

Question 9

List palpable pulse locations in the hindlimb.

Answer 9

femoral
saphenous
dorsal metatarsal
dorsal pedal

Question 10

Describe the femoral triangle area.

Answer 10

triangle space in proximal & medial thigh with veins, arteries, nerves

Question 11

List the veins of the hindlimb.

Answer 11

medial, lateral saphenous & popliteal -> femoral -> internal & external iliac -> common iliac -> common vena cava

Question 12

Draw a schematic of the veins of the hindlimb.

Answer 12

add photo

Question 13

Define plexi/plexus.

Answer 13

tangle of nerves supplying nerves going to a limb
(brachial -> forelimb)
(lumbosacral -> hindlimb)

Question 14

Describe the brachial plexus.

Answer 14

supplies all forelimb muscles
originate at last cervical & first thoracic nerves
located medial to scapula

Question 15

List the brachial plexus nerves.

Answer 15

suprascapular
subscapular
axillary 
musculocutaneous
radial
median
ulnar
thoracodorsal

Question 16

What happens if the supra scapular nerve is damaged?

Answer 16

muscle atrophies - (supraspinatus)

gait usually ok

Question 17

What happens if the musculocutaneous nerve is damaged?

Answer 17

biceps & brachialis atrophy
BUT
can be compensated for
medial antebrachium sensation lost

Question 18

What happens if the radial nerve is damaged?

Answer 18

proximal - limb useless b/c triceps not innervated

distal - knuckling d/t unopposed flexors but weight bearing

Question 19

Describe the lumbosacral plexus.

Answer 19

more diffuse than brachial

ventral branches of lumbar & sacral spinal nerves

Question 20

List the nerves in the lumbosacral plexus.

Answer 20

femoral 
obturator
gluteal
sciatic 
peroneal 
tibial

Question 21

What happens if the obturator nerve is damaged?

Answer 21

adductor muscles not supplied
get loss of adduction & unopposed abduction
‘splayed’ hind end in cows

Question 22

What happens if the femoral nerve is damaged?

Answer 22

quadriceps femoris paralysis

no stifle extension or weight bearing

Question 23

What happens if the sciatic nerve is damaged?

Answer 23

unopposed extension of stifle (paralyzed flexors)
unopposed flexion d/t paralyzed digital extensors
possible compensation