Topography of the medullary cone in coatimundi (Nasua nasua, Linnaeus 1766)

Abstract

Epidural anesthesia is a regional anesthetic technique that is generally used with good, safe results, and it has been applied in the last 80 years through numerous methodologies aimed at testing anesthesia of the spinal nerves of the lumbar and sacral regions. It is necessary to know not only the anesthetic procedures, but also to apply anatomical knowledge of the species to be manipulated. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the topography of the medullary cone of the coati, supporting the implementation of anesthetic techniques in this species of wild carnivores. We used three adult animals obtained from the CECRIMPAS scientific breeding unit. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Fundação de Ensino Octávio Bastos – UNIFEOB. The animals were fixed and dissected along the entire length of the medullary cord. The conus had its base between the 5th and 6th lumbar vertebrae and apex at the 3rd sacral vertebra, with total length ranging between 5.2cm and 5.8cm. Thus, we conclude that the most appropriate place to perform epidural anesthesia in the coatimundi is in the sacrocaudal region.

Keywords

• coatimundi
• medullary cone
• vertebro-medullary topography