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Anatomical study of the origin and distribution of the lumbosacral plexus and vertebral topography of the medullary cone in capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766)

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Abstract

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is currently the largest known representative of the Rodentia order. It is an important herbivorous animal from the zootechnical point of view, found in different countries in South America, mainly in Brazil, where it can be found in all its States. The study of the anatomy of the lumbosacral plexus and medullary cone of the species could contribute to the development of comparative anatomy, and to adoption of future clinical and surgical procedures in the species. The present study proposed to conduct an exploration of the nerves of the lumbosacral plexus in capybara to highlight their relationship with the adjacent muscle tissues. Four adult capybaras, two males and two females, were used for dissection of the muscles innervated by the nerves that make up the lumbosacral plexus. The results allowed to verify that the lumbosacral plexus is formed by ventral roots originating in the six lumbar vertebrae and the three sacral vertebrae. The medullary cone was found between L6 and S1 in the sixth lumbar vertebra (L6) and the first sacral vertebra (S1). The identification and the recognition of these nerves in capybaras are important to improve the assessment of possible injuries caused by inadequate management, accidental mechanical shocks, or peripheral nervous system disorders. Additionally, the study included the topographic analysis of the medullary cone, essential for improving the anesthetic techniques by epidural route. The expansion of this type of research with capybaras can be useful for developing management techniques that preserve the species health and well-being.

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No vouchers were preserved from this study. The raw images used for anaylses can be made available upon person request to the authors.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank University of Sao Paulo (PUB Program) for scholarship to undergraduate research assistants; CNPQ (number 403937/2021-3) and FAPESP (2019/0331-0).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Cidade Universitária São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, ZC 05508 270, Brazil

    Anna Cláudia Carolina Shiramizu de Oliveira, Erick Eduardo da Silveira, Mayla Magalhães de Oliveira Alcobaça & Antônio Chaves de Assis Neto

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Fernanda Battistella Passos Nunes

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  1. Anna Cláudia Carolina Shiramizu de Oliveira
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  2. Erick Eduardo da Silveira
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  3. Mayla Magalhães de Oliveira Alcobaça
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  4. Fernanda Battistella Passos Nunes
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  5. Antônio Chaves de Assis Neto
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by ACCSO, EES, MMOA, FBPN and ACAN. The first draft of the manuscript was written by ACCSO and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Antônio Chaves de Assis Neto.

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de Oliveira, A.C.C.S., da Silveira, E.E., de Oliveira Alcobaça, M.M. et al. Anatomical study of the origin and distribution of the lumbosacral plexus and vertebral topography of the medullary cone in capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766). Zoomorphology 142, 403–409 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-023-00611-w

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