Anatomy of Hereditary Bovine Syndactylism. IV. Neurology

Abstract

Common neurologic anomalies of the syndactylous limbs of six Holsteins believed to posses the sy gene are described as follows:The continuation of the median nerve formed the lateral and the medial volar digital nerve, the two main digital nerves of thoracic syndactylous limbs. The dorsal metacarpal nerve divided into branches, traced to the abaxial aspects of the two dewclaws. The superficial and the deep branch of the ulnar nerve ended in the area of the lateral declaw. The medial volar digital nerve received some fibers possibly from the dorsal metacarpal nerve; and likewise, the lateral volar digital nerve, from the deep branch of the ulnar nerve.On a pelvic syndactylous limb the lateral and the medical plantar nerve continued as the corresponding digital nerves, the main nerves of the single digit. The medial plantar nerve detached a small plantar axial digital branch. One superficial and two deep dorsal metatarsal nerves were observed. The lateral and the medial branch of the superficial dorsal metatarsal nerve ended at the level of the fetlock. The medial deep dorsal metatarsal nerve reinforced the middle branch of the superficial dorsal metatarsal nerve. The lateral deep dorsal metatarsal nerve descended in the axis of the digit to the proximal end of the thirds phalanx.