The femoral nerves were studied in newborn goats of Saanen breed (22 males and 11 females) that were collected after natural death and fixed with 10% formaldehyde solution. In males the femoral nerve arose from the ventral spinal branches of L4 and L5 in eight animals (36%); in six animals (27%) it arose from the ventral spinal branches of L5 and L6; in five animals (23%) it arose from the ventral spinal branches of L5; in two animals (9%) it arose from the ventral spinal branches of L4, L5 and L6 and in one animal (5%) it arose from the ventral spinal branches of L5 and L6 and the ventral spinal branches of S1. In females the femoral nerve arose from the ventral spinal branches of L4 and L5 in seven animals (64%); in three animals (27%) it arose from the ventral spinal branches of L5 and L6 and in one animal (9%) it arose from the ventral spinal branches of L4, L5 and L6. In all animals, the femoral nerves were distributed in different branches to the major and minor psoas, femoris quadriceps, sartorius and pectinius muscles.
femoral nerve; Saanen; variation
