<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The lumbosacral plexus was investigated in the California sea lion and Northern elephant seal. In 9 California sea lions and 2 Northern elephant seals the femoral nerve rises from the ventral branches of the 3rd and 4th lumbar nerves, whilst in one male and two specimens of the Northern elephant seal the 5th lumbar nerve was also involved. Ventral branches of the 3rd and 4th lumbar nerves comprised the obturatorius nerve in 7 specimens; in 3 specimens the 5th lumbar nerve additionally supplements the obturatorius nerve. In Northern elephant seals the obturatorius nerve originates from the ventral branches of the 3rd, 4th and 5th lumbar nerves. The ischiadic nerve originates from the ventral branches of the 4th, 5th lumbar and 1st sacral nerves in 8 specimens California sea lions and in 2 North elephant seals. In 2 specimens of both species the 2nd sacral nerve also participates. The gluteal nerve created ventral branches of the 5th lumbar and 1st sacral nerves in three specimens; however in one specimen the 4th and 5th lumbar nerves gave rise to the same nerve in the Northern elephant seal. In California sea lions the gluteal nerve originates from the ventral branches of the 5th lumbar nerve in seven specimens, nonetheless in 3 specimens the 4th lumbar nerve also participates in its formation.</abstract>

The lumbosacral plexus was investigated in the California sea lion and Northern elephant seal. In 9 California sea lions and 2 Northern elephant seals the femoral nerve rises from the ventral branches of the 3rd and 4th lumbar nerves, whilst in one male and two specimens of the Northern elephant seal the 5th lumbar nerve was also involved. Ventral branches of the 3rd and 4th lumbar nerves comprised the obturatorius nerve in 7 specimens; in 3 specimens the 5th lumbar nerve additionally supplements the obturatorius nerve. In Northern elephant seals the obturatorius nerve originates from the ventral branches of the 3rd, 4th and 5th lumbar nerves. The ischiadic nerve originates from the ventral branches of the 4th, 5th lumbar and 1st sacral nerves in 8 specimens California sea lions and in 2 North elephant seals. In 2 specimens of both species the 2nd sacral nerve also participates. The gluteal nerve created ventral branches of the 5th lumbar and 1st sacral nerves in three specimens; however in one specimen the 4th and 5th lumbar nerves gave rise to the same nerve in the Northern elephant seal. In California sea lions the gluteal nerve originates from the ventral branches of the 5th lumbar nerve in seven specimens, nonetheless in 3 specimens the 4th lumbar nerve also participates in its formation.

Creation Nerves of the Lumbar and Sacral Plexus in California Sea Lions (Zalophus Californianus) and Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris)/Formiranje Nerava Iz Lumbalnog I Sakralnog Pleksusa Kod Kalifornijskog Morskog Lava (Zalophus Californianus) I Severnomorskog Slona (Mirounga Angustirostris)

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, 309 E 2nd Street, Pomona CA, USA

Marine Mammal Care Center of Fort MacArtur, San Pedro, CA, USA

Center of Forensic Investigation “Ivan Vučetić”, Ministry of Interior, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Zagreb, Croatia

Ministry of Environmental and Nature protection, Zagreb, Croatia

Acta Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The lumbosacral plexus was investigated in the California sea lion and Northern elephant seal. In 9 California sea lions and 2 Northern elephant seals the...

Published Online: Oct 03, 2014

Page range: 293 - 306

Received: Feb 06, 2014

Accepted: Apr 30, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2014-0028

Keywords
elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, nerve, pinnipedia, sea lion, sea mammals, Zalophus californianus

© by Mihelić Damir

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Published Online: Oct 03, 2014

Page range: 293 - 306

Received: Feb 06, 2014

Accepted: Apr 30, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2014-0028

Keywordselephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, nerve, pinnipedia, sea lion, sea mammals, Zalophus californianus

© by Mihelić Damir

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, nerve, pinnipedia, sea lion, sea mammals, Zalophus californianus