Division and distribution of phrenic nerves in the diaphragms of Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Based on the dissection of 30 diaphragms of adult male buffaloes of the Murrah breed, the authors studied the division and distribution of the phrenic nerves and the results found were as the follow: the phrenic nerves terminate in bifurcation both in dorsal branches and ventrolateral trunks at right (36.7%) and into left (100%) sides. The phrenic nerves terminate in bifurcation only to the right (46.7%) branches and dorsolateral trunks. The phrenic nerves terminate by trifurcation, only at the right sides (16.7%), in dorsal, lateral and ventral branches. The phrenic nerves were divided symmetrically (40%) by bifurcation into dorsal branches and ventrolateral trunks. The dorsal branches of the left phrenic nerves (23.3%) had heterolateral distribution. The ventral branches of the left phrenic nerve (10%) had heterolateral distribution. Homolateral connections were verified between the dorsal and lateral right branches (3.3%);between divisions of the left dorsal branches (3.3%) or left lateral branches (3.3%).