Nerve Supply of the Pelvic Limb

Question 1

Define lumbrosacral plexus

Answer 1

The intermingling of the ventral primary branches of spinal nerves L4-S4.

Question 2

What is the spinal origin of the femoral nerve?

Answer 2

L4-L6

Question 3

What is the spinal origin of the obturator nerve?

Answer 3

L4-L6

Question 4

What is the spinal origin of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 4

L6-S2

Question 5

What is the spinal origin of the pudendal nerve?

Answer 5

S2-S4

Question 6

Which muscles are innervated by the femoral nerve?

Answer 6

Flexors of the hip- iliopsoas, rectus femoris

Extensors of the stifle- quadriceps femoris

Question 7

Which areas of the skin are innervated by the saphenous branch from the femoral nerve?

Answer 7

Medial femoral and crural regions, dorsomedial skin of tarsus and metatarsus to the fetlock

Question 8

What are the clinical signs of a disruption in the femoral nerve?

Answer 8

Collapse of the stifle, inability to support weight, loss of sensation over medial crus

Question 9

Which muscles are innervated by the obturator nerve?

Answer 9

Adductors of the hip- external obturator, pectineus, adductor, gracilis

Question 10

Which joints are innervated by the obturator nerve?

Answer 10

Part of the hip and stifle

Question 11

What are the clinical signs of a disruption in the obturator nerve?

Answer 11

Abduction of the limb. Cows can go down into a split if there is bilateral damage

Question 12

What muscles are innervated by the cranial gluteal nerve?

Answer 12

Gluteal muscles (partially), tensor fascia lata

Question 13

Which joints are innervated by the cranial gluteal nerve?

Answer 13

Part of the hip

Question 14

What are the clinical signs of a disruption in the cranial gluteal nerve?

Answer 14

Partial atrophy of the gluteus medius

Question 15

Which muscles are innervated by the caudal gluteal nerve?

Answer 15

Extensors of the hip (partial)- biceps femoris, gluteus medius, semitendinosus
Abductors of the hip

Question 16

Which muscles are innervated by the sciatic nerve?

Answer 16

Most hindlimb muscles
Flexors of the stifle- caudal division of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, popliteus, gastrocnemius
Extensors and flexors of the tarsus
Extensors and flexors of the digit

Question 17

Which areas of the skin and joints are innervated by the sciatic nerve?

Answer 17

All skin from stifle to hoof (except what is innervated by the saphenous n.), part of the hip joint, all other joints distal to hip

Question 18

What are the clinical signs of disruption in the sciatic nerve?

Answer 18

Poor limb flexion, bearing weight on dorsal surface of digit, loss of sensation in lateral limb and foot

Question 19

Which muscles are innervated by the tibial nerve (caudal division of sciatic)?

Answer 19

Flexors of the stifle- popliteus, gastrocnemius
Extensors of the tarsus- soleus, superficial and deep digital flexors
Flexors of the digit- superficial and deep digital flexors

Question 20

Which areas of the skin and joints are innervated by the tibial nerve?

Answer 20

Caudolateral skin from stifle to hoof, stifle joint, plantar fetlock, pastern and coffin joints, navicular bursa. q

Question 21

What are the clinical signs of a disruption in the tibial nerve?

Answer 21

Gait with “dropped hock,” inability to flex digit, loss of sensation in the plantar metatarsus and digit

Question 22

Which muscles are innervated by the common peroneal nerve (cranial division of sciatic)?

Answer 22

Flexors of the tarsus- long and lateral digital extensors, tibialis cranialis
Extensors of the digit- long and lateral digitial extensors

Question 23

Which areas of the skin are innervated by the common peroneal nerve?

Answer 23

Skin over dorsolateral crus and pes, tarsal and fetlock joints, distal pastern and coffin joints

Question 24

What are the clinical signs of a disruption in the common peroneal nerve?

Answer 24

Inability to flex tarsus or extend digit, hyperextension of hock, hyperflexion of the digit. Animal knuckles the fetlock and drags the digit while walking. Loss of sensation of the dorsolateral pes from tarsus to fetlock