The origin and distribution of the ischiatic nerves at both sides were studied in 30 goats (Capra hircus) of the Saanen breed, being 16 males and 14 females. These specimens were collected after natural death of the animals and submitted to fixation in a 10% formaldehyde solution. The ischiatic nerves arose from the ventral branch of the sixth lumbar and the first and second sacral spinal nerves in 28 cases (93.3%). In addition, these nerves also received contributions from the ventral branch of the third sacral spinal nerve in two cases (6.7%) at both sides. In all animals, the right and left ischiatic nerves gave off branches to the muscles gluteus medius, gluteus profundus, gluteobiceps, gemelli, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus muscles. In particular, peculiar arrangements of these muscular branches were noticed for each specimen. By using the Wilcoxon test with significance level at 0.05, there were no significant differences among the frequencies of muscular branches of the ischiatic nerves emitted to the right and left sides, and also in relation to the sex of the goats in the present investigation.
Capra hircus; Saanen; ischiatic nerves
