title: Gross anatomic organization of the capybara's (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) brachial plexus.
abstract: The innervation of the capybara thoracic limb was characterized. The following nerves were observed constituting the right and left brachial plexus: n. dorsalis scapulae (C4 and C5; C4, C5 and C6) which innervates the m. serratus ventralis cervicis and m. rhomboideus; n. suprascapularis (C4, C5 and C6; C5, C6 and C7) supplying the m. supraspinatus and the m. infraspinatus; cranial and caudal nn. subscapulares (C5 and C6; C5, C6 and C7) innervating the m. subscapularis; n. axillaris (C5 and C6; C6, C7 and C8) which supplies the m. triceps brachii (caput mediale); n. radialis (C6, C7, C8 and T1; C6, C7 and C8) which innervates the m. triceps brachii (caput longum and caput mediale) and the m. extensor carpi radialis, m. extensor digitorum communis, m. extensor digitorum lateralis; n. medianus joined to the n. musculocutaneus (C6, C7, C8 and T1; C6, C7 and C8) supplying the m. biceps brachii, m. flexor carpi radialis and m. coracobrachialis; n. ulnaris (C6, C7, C8 and T1; C6, C7 and C8) leading to the m. flexor carpi radialis, the m. flexor carpi ulnaris and the m. flexor digitorum superficialis; n. thoracodorsalis (C6, C7, C8 and T1; C6, C7 and C8) supplying the m. latissimus dorsi; n. thoracicus lateralis (C8, T1; C7, C8, T1) which innervates m. pectoralis profundus (caudal portion); n. thoracicus longus (C6, C7; C7, C8) which is distributed to the m. serratus ventralis thoracis. A communication between the n. radialis and n. ulnaris was observed at the left brachial plexus.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Fioretto
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de Souza Castro
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Guidi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mainardi
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: A A C M
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*