The lumbosacral plexus forms by the ventral branches of the fourth, fifth, sixth lumbar spinal nerves along with the first and second sacral spinal nerves in ox. You will find a slight variation in the formation of lumbosacral plexus in other different species like goat, horse, and dog compared to an ox. I will show you the lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of an ox, sheep, and goat with labeled diagrams.
You will also get a good piece of knowledge on the lumbosacral plexus branches with their specific innervation in ox, goat, and sheep. I will also describe the course of most important nerves like the ischiatic nerve of the ox (along with its branches) from the lumbosacral plexus so that you may identify it so quickly from the actual sample.
It is essential to know the supply of ischiatic nerve (tibia and fibula nerves) of an ox in their digits. Don’t forget to check the summary of the innervation of lumbosacral plexus nerves of an ox (focused on the ischiatic nerve) at the end of this article.
Lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of ox
The lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of ox comprises a cranial lumbar and a caudal sacral part. You will find the lumbar plexus at the ventrolateral aspect of the lumbar transverse processes of the fifth and sixth vertebrae in ox. In comparison, you will find the sacral plexus just below and lateral to the cranial aspect of the wings of the sacrum in ox.
The branches of the lumbosacral plexus of ox, sheep, and goat innervate the muscles and skin of the caudal lumbar region, hip, thigh, and hind limbs. Fine, let’s know the branches of this plexus of an ox in short.
In the lumbar plexus of an ox, you will find the following essential branches (nerves) in ox, sheep, and goat –
- The lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of ox
- A femoral nerve or lumbar plexus of an ox, and
- An obturator nerve of the lumbar plexus of ox, sheep, and goat
Again, in the sacral plexus of an ox, sheep, and goat, you will find three significant branches –
- The cranial gluteal nerve,
- A caudal gluteal nerve, and
- The ischiatic nerve of the sacral plexus of ox
You know, the ischiatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, and you will find the following branches in ox, sheep, and goat –
- The thin muscular branch of the ischiatic nerve
- A small muscular branch,
- The thick muscular branch,
- Acaudal cutaneous or external saphenous nerve,
- The fibular or peroneal, or external popliteal nerve of an ox, and
- A tibial nerve of ox
I think you got the basic idea on the lumbosacral plexus nerves of an ox, goat, and sheep. Fine, now I will try to show you all these nerves anatomy from the lumbosacral plexus of an ox with their specific innervations.
Let’s start with the branches and course of the lumbar plexus of an ox.
Lumbar plexus nerve anatomy of ox
The lumbar plexus nerves anatomy of an ox is formed by the ventral branches of the fourth and fifth lumbar spinal nerves. It locates at the ventrolateral aspect of the lumbar transverse process of an ox’s fourth, fifth, and sixth lumbar vertebrae.
The lumbar plexus nerves of an ox, sheep, and goat innervate the caudal lumbar region and the medial of the thigh. You already know three significant branches in the lumbar plexus of an ox, sheep, and goat. Now, you might know the anatomy of these three major branches of the lumbar plexus of an ox.
- The anatomy and courses of lateral cutaneous nerve,
- A short course of femoral nerve from lumbar plexus of the ox, and
- The course and innervation of obturator nerves from the lumbar plexus of the ox.
Fine, let’s get into the course of the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of an ox.
Structures you might know the learn lumbar plexus nerves
I think you have a good piece of knowledge on the forelimb bone anatomy and forelimb muscles anatomy of an ox, sheep, or a goat. The below-mentioned structures, muscles, and parts of bones require learning the anatomy of the lumbar plexus of an ox.
- The psoas and iliacus muscles of ox, sheep, or goat
- Coxal tuber and other different structures from hip bone of an ox
- Branches of deep circumflex iliac artery
- The obliquus extrenus abdominal muscles of ox, sheep, or goat
- Location of the subiliac lymph node of ox
- Identity the stifle joint in ox, sheep, and goat and
- Identification of some muscles like quadriceps femoris, adductor, pectineus, and gracilis
Now, you may start to learn the course of lumbar plexus nerves from an ox, sheep, and goat.
The lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of ox
This lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of an ox is formed by the ventral branches of the fourth and fifth lumbar spinal nerves. It passes in the caudal direction between the psoas muscles of the ox.
Toward the cranial border of the coxal tuber, the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve across the surface of the peritoneum. This nerve has contact with the branch of the deep circumflex iliac artery of the ox. Together with the caudal branch of the deep circumflex iliac artery, it enters into the obliquus externus abdominis muscle of ox.
At the thing region of the ox, you will find the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve along the deep face of the subiliac lymph node.
This is a concise course of the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of ox, sheep, and goat.
Femoral nerve anatomy in ox and goat
The femoral nerve is the most vital nerve in the lumbar plexus branches in ox, sheep, and goat. It supplies the quadriceps femoris muscle, medial aspect of the stifle joint, fascia, skin, and the medial aspect of the thigh of the ox.
The femoral nerve of ox or sheep and goat is formed by the convergence of ventral branches of fifth and sixth lumbar spinal nerves. You will find some small branches after the origin that supply an ox’s psoas and iliacus muscles.
You will also find a small branch of the femoral nerve that contributes with the obturator nerve of goat/ the main branch of the femoral nerve supplies to the quadriceps femoris muscle in ox, sheep, and goat.
At the pectin ossis tuber (pubis) level, it gives two branches – adductor and saphenous. The saphenous nerve runs on the medial thing along with the saphenous artery and medial saphenous vein.
At the distal third on the medial aspect of a thing, you will find some small branches of the saphenous nerves in ox. In addition, you will also find some branches of the femoral nerve at the medial aspect of the stifle joint that supplies the muscles, fascia, and skin of the particular area.
The saphenous nerve is sensory to the skin on the medial side of the thigh as far distally as to the mid-metatarsal region of an ox.
Obturator nerve anatomy in ox
The obturator nerve of ox is formed by the convergence of the fifth and sixth lumbar spinal nerves’ ventral branch and the femoral nerve. It runs caudoventrally under the peritoneum between the corresponding blood vessel to the cranial end of obturator foramen of ox.
Here, it will innervates the obturatorius externus muscle in ox. The obturator nerve of ox, sheep, and goat will pass the abdominal cavity through the obturator foramen and give branches to the adductor, pectineus, and gracilis muscles.
“Sometime you may find the femoral nerve damage in ox or other animals. They will not be able to carry the weight on the affected limb. Loss of skin sensation the localized area of the medial thigh, medial crus, and medial pes also find in ox or other animals.”
A sacral part from lumbosacral plexus nerve anatomy of ox
The sacral part of the lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of an ox, sheep, and goat forms by the ventral branch of the sixth lumbar and first, second sacral spinal nerves. It locates below and lateral to the cranial aspect of the wings of the sacrum bone of ox, sheep, and goat.
The nerves of the sacral plexus of animals innervate to the muscles and skin of the caudal lumbar region, hip, thing, and hind limb.
You already got the branches of the sacral plexus of ox, sheep, and goat. Now I will provide their innervation along with a short course. But, I will provide you the detailed course of fibular and tibial branches of ischiatic nerves of ox, goat, and sheep with a labeled diagram.
Make sure you know the details anatomy of the leg bones and muscles of ox, sheep, and goat.
Structures you might know to learn the course of sacral plexus nerves of the ox.
I know you have good knowledge of the anatomy of muscles and hind leg bones of ox, sheep, and goat. So, you may skip this part of the article and continue with the next part – the course of the cranial gluteal nerve in ox.
Please, try to identify the following structures from the hind leg of an ox, sheep, or a goat –
Major important muscles of thigh region of ox, sheep, and goat (different parts of gluteal muscles, gluteobiceps, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris, gamellus, quadratus femoris muscles)
The extensor and flexor groups of muscles from the hind leg of ox, sheep, and goat
Important bone structures like trochanter major, greater trochanter, tuber ischia, tibial crest, calcaneus tuber, and others.
The boundary of a muscular canal in ox, sheep, and goat (actually there is no canal present in the body)
Now. Let’s head to the course of sacral plexus nerves of ox, sheep, and goat.
The cranial gluteal nerve of ox
The cranial gluteal nerve of ox, sheep, and goat is formed by the sixth lumbar’s ventral branch and first sacral spinal nerve. It exits through the greater ischiatic foramen (actually, there is no such foramen in the animal body).
You will find several branches of the cranial gluteal nerve in ox extending to the cranial to ilium bone and lateral to gluteal muscles.
The cranial gluteal nerve supply to the gluteal medialis, gluteal profundus, and tensor fasciae late ox muscles. In addition, the branch of the cranial gluteal nerve that supplies the tensor fasciae late muscle is longer than any other branches.
Caudal gluteal nerve of ox
The caudal gluteal nerve of ox arises from the caudal aspect of the ischiatic nerve. The fibers of this nerve come from the ventral branches of the first and second sacral spinal nerves.
This nerve exits through the greater ischiatic foramen and the ischiatic nerve and passes along the middle gluteus muscle.
You will find two branches of the caudal gluteal nerve in ox – the dorsal and ventral branches. The dorsal branch of the caudal gluteal nerve supply the gluteus, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus muscle. Again, the ventral branches give several branches and supply to the gluteobiceps muscle of the ox.
Ischiatic nerve from lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of ox
The ischiatic nerve is the largest nerve in the lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of an ox. It forms by the ventral branches of the sixth lumbar and first sacral spinal nerves in ox. Sometimes the ventral branch of the second sacral spinal contributes to the formation of ischiatic nerve in ox.
This ischiatic nerve comes out through the greater ischiatic foramen. It passes caudoventrally between the trochanter major and the tuber ischium of an ox. Again, the ischiatic nerve of ox runs along with the gamellus and quadratus femoris muscle and enters into the muscular canal.
Do you know about the muscular canal in ox or other animals? Actually, there is no such muscular canal in an animal body. The muscular canal of the ox is formed laterally by the semitendinosus, quadratus femoris muscle, and medially by adductor and semimembranosus muscles.
Near the middle of the thigh, it divides into fibular and tibial nerves in ox. The tibial nerve dips into the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle of the ox.
But, the ischiatic nerve gives other branches like thin, small, thick muscular nerves and caudal cutaneous nerve in ox.
Thin, small, and thick muscular branch of the ischiatic nerve
This thin muscular branch of the ischiatic nerve passes along the deep face and re-enter the pelvic cavity through the lesser ischiatic foramen. It mainly supplies to the obturator internus muscle of ox, sheep, and goat.
Again, the small muscular branch of the ischiatic nerve originates from the caudal aspect of the ischiatic nerve. At the lateral aspect of the pelvic cavity, it passes backward and supplies the ox’s gamellus and quadratus femoris muscles.
In addition, you will find a thick muscular branch of the ischiatic nerve at the hip level in ox. This nerve innervates to the part of an ox’s biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus muscles.
The caudal cutaneous nerve of ox
The caudal cutaneous nerve of an ox originates close to the hip joint of an ox. It courses downward and has a communication with the fibular nerve. Again, the caudal cutaneous nerve passes over the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle towards the lower third of the leg.
Finally, it will give some branches that supply to the skin, lateral aspect of the tarsal and metatarsal bones of ox, sheep, and goat.
Fibular nerve anatomy of ox
Another name of the fibular nerve of the ox is the peroneal or external popliteal nerve. You should not avoid learning the course of fibular nerve from the lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of the ox. The fibular nerve of the ox has two essential branches – superficial and deep branches.
The superficial branch of the fibular nerve of the ox will supply the cranio-lateral, cranial, and cranio-medial aspects of the digits. Again, the deep branch of the fibular nerve will supply the cranial (axial) and caudal (axial) surfaces of the digits of ox, sheep, and goat.
You will find the summary of these innervations of a fibular nerve at the end of the course.
The ischiatic nerve runs cranially under the gluteobiceps muscle in ox, sheep, and goat. At the middle of the thigh region, it descends along the lateral aspect of the gastrocnemius muscle.
Again, it will run in between the fibularis longus and extensor digitorum lateral muscles of an ox. Here, you will find the two main branches of the fibular nerve –
The superficial branch of the fibular nerve and
A deep branch of the fibular nerve
In addition, at the distal third of the thigh, the main nerve also gives the lateral cutaneous sural nerve. This nerve passes in between the glutes biceps and lateral head of gastrocnemius muscles of an ox.
The superficial branch of the fibular nerve of ox
At the middle of the leg, this superficial branch of the fibular nerve gradually enters too deep into the fibularis longus muscle. Then it appears between the fibularis tertius, fibularis longus, and extensor digital lateralis muscle.
At the middle part of the dorsal surface of metatarsus bone, the tibial nerve divides and form the following nerves –
- The dorsal common digital nerve IV (lateral aspect),
- Dorsal common digital nerve III (middle) and
- The dorsal proper digital nerve II (at medial aspect)
Now, you may read the rest course of these branches from the diagram.
The dorsal common digital nerve IV will run along the dorsolateral aspect of the metatarsal bone of ox. At the fetlock joint, it will divides and forms –
- Lateral accessory digital nerve – supply to the fifth digit and
- The dorsal proper digital nerve IV (abaxial) – supply the abaxial side of the IV digit.
So, the dorsal common digital nerve IV will supply the craniolateral aspect of the digits.
Again, the dorsal common digital nerve III will supply the digits III and IV. You will find dorsal proper digital nerve III that will supply the axial aspect of digit III. Again, you will find the dorsal proper digital nerve IV that supplies the axial side of digit IV.
So, the dorsal common digital nerve will supply the cranial (axial) aspect of the digits of an ox.
In addition, the dorsal proper digital nerve will supply the second digit and III digits (a craniomedial aspect of digits). So, here you will find two nerves – medial accessory and dorsal proper digital nerve III (abaxial).
Deep branch of ox fibular nerve
In the lumbosacral plexus nerves, anatomy of an ox, the fibular nerve’s deep branch also supplies up to the digits (III, IV). It supplies the cranial and caudal aspects of the digits in ox.
After dividing into the deep branch, the fibular nerve descends along the groove between the fibularis longus and extensor digitorum lateralis muscle. It will also run along with the extensor digitorum longus muscle of the ox.
You will find this deep branch on metatarsal bone as dorsal metatarsal nerve VIII in ox, sheep, and goat. Here, the deep branch of the tibial nerve gives the lateral and medial branches. The medial branch is communicating branch and forms the plantar common digital nerve.
This planter common digital nerve supply to the digit III as plantar proper digital nerve III. And again, it will also supply the digit IV as a plantar proper digital nerve IV.
In addition, at the fetlock joint, the dorsal metatarsal nerve III continues as dorsal common digital nerve III. It will also supply the axial surfaces of the digits III and IV of an ox, sheep, and goat. You will find dorsal proper digital nerve III and dorsal proper digital nerve IV.
So, the deep branch of a fibular nerve will supply the cranial and caudal aspect of the digits (III, IV) of ox, sheep, and goat.
Tibial nerve from lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of ox
This nerve from the lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of the ox also innervates up to the digits. There are two main branches (medial and lateral) found in the tibial nerve course in ox, sheep, and goat. The tibial nerve will innervate caudomedial, caudal, and caudolateral aspects of the digits II, III, and IV.
At the middle of the thigh, the tibial nerve of ox separates from the fibular nerve. Then it passes along the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle of the ox. Again, it will run along with the lateral head of gastrocnemius and flexor dogitorum superficial muscles of an ox. In addition, this tibial nerve will lie cranial to the common calcaneal tendon.
At the calcaneal tuber, the tibial nerve of the ox will divide into the medial branch and lateral plantar branch. The medial branch of a tibial nerve will supply the caudomedial and caudal surfaces of the digits. Again, the lateral plantar branch will supply the caudolateral aspect of the digits IV and V.
The medial branch of tibial ox nerve
You will find the medial branch of the tibial nerve at the medioplanter aspect of the tarsus bone of ox. It will lie within the groove between the interosseous muscle and flexor tendon.
At the fetlock joint, the medial branch of a tibial nerve will divide into plantar common digital nerve II and planter common digital nerve III. The planter proper digital nerve gives the medial accessory digital nerve for second digits and the planter proper abaxial digital nerve III.
In addition, the planter common digital nerve III will gives plantar proper digital nerve III and plantar proper digital nerve IV. So, the medial branch of the ox tibial nerve will cover the caudomedial and caudal surfaces of the digits.
Lateral plantar branch of the tibial nerve of ox
This lateral plantar branch of a tibial nerve will also pass within the groove between the interosseous muscle and flexor tendon. It will continue as plantar common digital nerve IV and divides at the level of the fetlock joint.
After dividing at the fetlock joint, you will find lateral accessory digital
nerve V and planter proper abaxial digital nerve IV. So, the lateral plantar branch of the ox tibial nerve will innervate the caudolateral aspect of digits.
Lumbosacral plexus nerve anatomy diagram in ox
Here, again I will provide the lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy labeled diagram of an ox. I tried to show you the significant branches of the lumbosacral plexus of an ox.
You will get the updated labeled diagram of the lumbar and sacral plexus of an ox, sheep, and goat on the social media of anatomylearner.com.
Frequently asked questions on ox lumbosacral plexus nerves
Fine, I will try to solve the frequently asked questions on ox lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy in this part.
What nerves are part of the lumbosacral plexus?
There are two parts in the lumbosacral plexus: the cranial or lumbar parts and the caudal or sacral. The formation of the lumbar and sacral parts of the lumbosacral plexus is different in different animal species.
In the lumbar plexus of an ox, sheep, you will find obturator NL cutaneous femoral, femoral nerve, and obturator nerve. Again, in the ox sacral plexus, you will find cranial gluteal, caudal gluteal and ischiatic nerves.
Where is the lumbosacral plexus?
The lumbar plexus of ox situates at the ventral and lateral aspect of the fifth, sixth lumbar transverse process. Again, the sacral plexus of ox place below and lateral to the cranial aspect of sacrum wings.
What is lumbosacral plexus?
The lumbosacral plexus converges the ventral branch of a few lumbar and two sacral spinal nerves. This plexus’s branches innervate the muscles and skin of the caudal lumbar region, hip region, medial to thigh, hind limb, and digits.
What are the three major nerves of the lumbosacral plexus?
The ischiatic nerve and two major branches – tibial and fibular- are the major nerves in the sacral plexus of a goat.
Is lumbosacral plexus same as sacral plexus?
What happens if the lumbar plexus is damaged?
If the lumbar plexus damage, the animal will not carry weight on the affected limb. And there is a loss of sensation in the localized area medial to the thigh, crus, and medial pes.
Where is the lumbosacral plexus located?
How is lumbosacral plexus formed?
What spinal nerves comprise the lumbosacral plexus?
Some common questions on lumbar and sacral plexus of animals –
Which digits and aspects are supplied by the superficial branch of the ox fibular nerve?
Which digits are supplied by the deep branch of the ox fibular nerve?
Write down the surfaces and digits that innervate by the tibial nerve
Conclusion
The lumbosacral plexus nerves anatomy of ox, sheep, and goat are essential to learning as a veterinary student for future diagnosis of nerve damage. You might have good pieces of knowledge on the branches of the lumbosacral plexus of ox, sheep, and goat. There are three main branches found both in the lumbar and sacral plexuses of an ox.
The ischiatic nerve was the largest among all the nerves from the lumbosacral plexus anatomy of ox, sheep, and goat. There are several branches of the ischiatic nerve where the tibia and fibula supply up to ox, sheep, and goat digits.
The superficial branch of the ox fibular nerve will supply to the craniolateral, craniomedial, and cranial surfaces of the digits. Again, the ox fibular nerve’s deep branch supplies the cranial and caudal surfaces of digits III and IV. The tibial nerve from the lumbosacral plexus of the ox will supply the caudomedial, caudal, and caudolateral aspects of digits.
