The Structure of the Brachial Plexus of the Djungarian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Abstract

Hamsters are often chosen as companion animals but are also a group of animals frequently subjected to laboratory tests. As there are no scientific publications providing information on the anatomical architecture of the brachial plexus of the Djungarian hamster, this study analyses the structure of this part of the nervous system of this species. It is important to know the details of this structure not only for cognitive reasons, but also due to the increasing clinical significance of rodents, which are often used in scientific research. The study was conducted on 55 specimens. Like in humans, the brachial plexus of the Djungarian hamster has three trunks. The following individual nerves innervating the thoracic limb of the Djungarian hamster: the radial nerve, median nerve, ulnar nerve, musculocutaneous nerve, axillary nerve, suprascapular nerve, thoracodorsal nerve, cranial pectoral nerves, caudal pectoral nerve, lateral thoracic nerve, long thoracic nerve, and subscapular nerves. Similarly to other mammals of this order, the brachial plexus of the Djungarian hamster ranges widely (C5-T1). However, its nerves are formed from different ventral branches of the spinal nerves than in other mammals.

Possible case of prefixed brachial plexus in a dog with a caudal cervical intervertebral disc extrusion

“…6 In veterinary medicine, the literature on prefixed and postfixed brachial plexus and on anatomical variations associated with brachial plexus abnormalities is scant. [6][7][8][9][10] Brachial plexus variations have been reported in some rodents, and a possible evolutionary basis has been suggested; in particular, morphological changes may have induced anatomical differences that allowed specific behaviours, such as the ability to hold food with hands or dig the ground. 3 Sporadic cases of prefixed and postfixed lumbosacral plexus have been described in dogs, 11,12 but there are no reports of brachial plexus variations in the recent literature.…”

“…[6][7][8][9] In veterinary medicine, similar anatomical variations are currently known in some primates, monotremes and in various species of rodents, including the Mongolian gerbil and the Djungarian hamster. 3,10 In other domestic animals, the presence of a prefixed brachial plexus remains unknown; however, the presence of postfixed brachial plexus is recognised in some species, such as sheep. 11 To the authors' best knowledge, no reports of similar brachial plexus variation have been published in dogs.…”