Descrição anatômica do plexo braquial e dos pontos de bloqueio anestésico em preguiça comum.

Abstract

Brown-throated Sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is an arboreal tree mammal with distinct anatomical characteristics. Nine fixed specimens were used to describe the origin, composition and territory of innervation of the brachial plexus and identification of possible points of anesthetic block in thoracic limb. The brown-throated sloth presented nine cervical vertebrae and the brachial plexus was derived from the C6-T2 nerves, with a distribution of cranial (C6 - C8), medium (C9) and caudal (C10 - T2) branches joined to form the common trunk and posterior organization in ventral and dorsal fascicles. For the anesthetic block of the thoracic limb, the supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary and distal approaches can be used with ulnar and medial musculocutaneous nerve block. The results found may contribute to surgical and anesthetic procedures, as well as research on comparative anatomy among wild animals.