Variation in the Muscles and Nerves of the Leg in Two Genera of Grouse (Tympanuchus and Pedioecetes)Holmes, E. Bruce
Science
Variation in the Muscles and Nerves of the Leg in Two Genera of Grouse (Tympanuchus and Pedioecetes)
Holmes, E. Bruce
Leg -- Innervation; Leg -- Muscles; Sharp-tailed grouse; Tympanuchus
INDIVIDUAL VARIATION.--In P.p. 1, the plexus resembles the typical
condition in _T. pallidicinctus_. In P.p. 2, 3, and 4, the plexus is
prefixed. P.p. 2 resembles T.c.p. 3. In P.p. 3 and 4 (fig. 3B) there are
two furcal nerves (S4 and S5); S2 to S4 are the main contributors to the
femoral nerve; only S2 and S3 contribute to the obturator nerve; S4 to
S9 contribute to the sciatic nerve (the anteriormost and posteriormost
roots are small).
=_Femoral Nerve_=, Figs. 4, 5
_T. pallidicinctus_
DESCRIPTION.--The femoral nerve is short, dividing inside the pelvis
into six major divisions--anterior, middle, posterior, anterodorsal,
dorsal, and posterodorsal. The anterodorsal and posterodorsal divisions
are short, failing to extend so far laterally as the inguinal ligament;
the posterodorsal division is also small and is usually covered by other
divisions and is not visible when viewed from the ventral side.
The anterior division passes ventral to Mm. iliotrochantericus medius
and iliacus and dorsal to the anterior end of the inguinal ligament. The
division branches into two parts. The anterior part extends around the
posterior border of M. extensor iliotibialis anticus and sends several
twigs to the lateral surface of this muscle. The posterior part passes
between the proximal parts of Mm. extensor iliotibialis anticus and
extensor iliotibialis lateralis and supplies the skin.
The middle division passes ventral to Mm. iliotrochantericus medius and
iliacus and dorsal to the inguinal ligament. The division branches into
a large but variable number of parts. A variable number of branches
(usually two) pass posterior to M. extensor iliotibialis anticus and
penetrate the medial surface of M. extensor iliotibialis lateralis.
Several branches supply the fused Mm. vastus lateralis and vastus
medialis. The posteriormost branch of this division passes between Mm.
ambiens and vastus medialis, giving twigs to the lateral surface of M.
ambiens, and sometimes also to the medial surface of M. vastus medialis,
and terminates in M. femoritibialis internus.
The posterior division, which does not subdivide, spirals completely
around M. psoas (passing in turn anterior, dorsal, posterior, and
ventral to it) and gives twigs into this muscle. This nerve then extends
distally into the proximal part of the shank and there has a nonmuscular
termination.
The short, thick anterodorsal division, partly covered by the anterior
division, turns dorsally and passes through the femoral notch of the
ilium and penetrates the deep surface of M. gluteus profundus.
The slender dorsal division passes ventral to M. iliotrochantericus
medius and dorsal to the inguinal ligament and penetrates the ventral
surface of M. iliacus.
The small, short posterodorsal division penetrates the ventral surface
of M. iliotrochantericus medius.
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