Anatomical characteristics of the brachial plexus of lesser anteater (“Tamandua tetradactyla” Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the origin, composition and the nerves from the brachial plexus of the lesser anteater. Two cadavers were given by the Wild Animals Screening Center (CETAS Chico Mendes), Salvador city, Brazil and the execution of the project was authorized by the System of Authorization and Information in Biodiversity (SISBIO – IBAMA) n°20268-1 (29/05/2009). The results were described, schematized and photographed, and the anatomic terms adopted were the ones recommended by the International Committee on Veterinary Gross Anatomical Nomenclature. The brachial plexus received contribution from the spinal cord segments C5; C6; C7; C8 and T1 with the formation of three trunks: cranial (C5 and C6), median (C7) and caudal (C8 and T1) which originated the nerves derived from the plexus, except the antebrachial medial cutaneous nerve that was of a monosegmental origin. The brachial plexus of the lesser anteater presented origin, composition and formation of peripheral nerves similar to the observed in several other domestic and wild mammals.