title: Ultrasonographic study of the feline sciatic nerve.
abstract: This study was conducted to describe the ultrasonographic appearance and technique for the evaluation of sciatic nerve (ScN) in cats. An anatomical study was carried out using six feline cadavers to determine anatomic landmarks. An ultrasonographic 'in vitro' study was performed using eight pelvic limbs from four fresh feline cadavers to assess the ScN in three regions (glutea, femoralis and popliteal) using a 4-13MHz linear transducer. Five healthy adult experimental cats were employed for an 'in vivo' ultrasonographic study of the ScN using the same protocol described for the 'in vitro' study. The ultrasonographic images of the ScN were well correlated with those obtained in the anatomical study. The ScN was easily identified in all the approaches. The ScN was observed as a hypoechoic structure with internal echoes, outlined by hyperechoic lines. This study shows the usefulness of ultrasound to evaluate the entire pathology of the ScN in the cat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laredo
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Eliseo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Belda
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography