VAN 121: Veterinary Gross Anatomy-II (2+2)

SACRAL SPINAL NERVES

• The dorsal branches are small, gain exit through the dorsal sacral foramina and supply the muscles and skin of the croup.
• The ventral branches of the first and second enter into the formation of the lumbo-sacral plexus.
• The third generally gives off a branch to the plexus and the rest unites with the fourth and divides into pudic and posterior haemorrhoidal nerves.
• The pudic nerve passes on the sacrosciatic ligament, gives off branches to the bladder, urethra and muscular branches to the muscles of the anus.
• At the ischial arch it supplies branches to ischiocavernosus, urethra, and corpus cavernosum penis in the male and vulva in the female and terminate in the clitoris.
• The pudic nerve in the male is continued around the ischial arch, descends on the dorsum penis to reach the glans penis. It supplies the erectile tissue and prepuce.
• The posterior haemorrhoidal nerve supplies the rectum.
• The ventral primary branch of the fifth is small and supplies the muscles of the anus and skin, compressor coccygeus and skin of the tail.