Anatomy of the lumbosacral spinal cord in rabbits

This study provides an accurate, anatomical description of the rabbit's lum bosacral spinal cord. Following humane euthanasia, 64 rabbits were radiogra phed and dissected. The number of thoracic (T) and lumbar (L) vertebrae was 12T/7L in 43.8%, 13T/6L in 32.8%, and 13T/7L in 23.4% in the 64 rabbits st udied. The 13th ribs were rudimentary, asymmetric, or both in 15 animals. T he spinal cord terminated within the second sacral vertebra (S-2) in 79.3%, within the first sacral vertebra (S-1) in 19.0%, and within the third sacr al vertebra (S-3) in 1.7% of the sample. Spinal nerve contributions to the femoral, obturator, sciatic, and pudendal nerves were determined. Formulas to predict the termination of the cord relative to the vertebral column wer e established. Age, weight, sex, and method of preparation did not show a s ignificant correlation with the length of the spinal cord.