An epidural is placed between which vertebrae?

• A. Between T12 and L1
• B. Between L7 and S1
• C. Between C1 and C2
• D. Between L3 and L4

Answer: (B)

An epidural is a regional anesthesia technique where local anesthetic is placed into the epidural space to block nerve roots and provide analgesia to tissues supplied by those nerves. In veterinary practice, the most common site for an epidural aimed at hindquarters, pelvis, perineum, and tail is the lumbosacral space—the junction between the last lumbar vertebra (L7) and the first sacral vertebra (S1).

This location gives reliable spread of the anesthetic to the sacral and caudal nerves, producing effective analgesia for the lower body with a relatively large, accessible epidural space. It also keeps the needle away from the more cranial spinal cord, reducing the risk of severe CNS injury and making the technique easier in many patients.

The other regions listed would target different areas or involve higher risk/less practical approaches for typical hindquarter analgesia. The lumbosacral site is the standard choice in this context.