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 one leg (fig. 7), the twig to M.
caudofemoralis pars caudifemoralis arises more proximally than usual and
perforates pars iliofemoralis independently of the branch to M. flexor
cruris lateralis. The nerve supplying M. flexor cruris lateralis does
not perforate M. caudofemoralis pars iliofemoralis, but passes deep to
it in three legs. In half the legs, the paraperoneal branch of the
tibial nerve, after extending a short distance in its own sheath, enters
the sheath of the peroneal nerve and appears grossly to unite with it;
if, however, the sheath is slit open, the paraperoneal branch can be
easily pulled apart from the posterior edge of the peroneal nerve; the
paraperoneal branch is again enclosed in its own sheath at the distal
end of the thigh. In one leg, the cutaneous branch of the peroneal nerve
perforates the posteroproximal part of M. gastrocnemius pars externa; in
three others, this branch is absent. In one of these last three legs
(fig. 7), the distal cutaneous branch of the tibial nerve is also
absent. In three legs (of different specimens), a minute twig from the
middle tibial division passes posteriorly deep to M. caudofemoralis pars
caudifemoralis toward the tail (fig. 7); this twig joins the pudendal
plexus in one leg; in the other two the twig could not be traced to its
termination. Minute twigs come off the peroneal nerve near the middle of
the thigh and enter M. extensor iliofibularis in some legs. In a few
cases, a minute nonmuscular twig arises from the peroneal nerve near the
distal end of the main trunk and passes anteriorly deep to M. vastus
lateralis pars postica (fig. 7).
_T. cupido_
INDIVIDUAL VARIATION.--In several legs, the nerve supplying M. flexor
cruris lateralis does not perforate M. caudofemoralis pars
iliofemoralis, but passes deep to it. The branch to M. flexor cruris
medialis arises from the posterior (rather than the middle) tibial
division in one instance (fig. 8). In one leg, a minute twig from the
middle tibial division passes posteriorly and joins the pudendal plexus;
in another, a similar twig is present but could not be traced to its
termination. In some specimens, minute twigs come off the peroneal nerve
near the middle of the thigh and enter M. extensor iliofibularis. In one
leg, a nonmuscular twig arises from the base of the cutaneous branch of
the peroneal nerve and passes anteriorly deep to M. vastus lateralis
pars postica. In another leg (fig. 8), a tiny additional twig arises
from the posterior edge of the tibial nerve and subdivides, one branch
joining the cutaneous branch of the middle tibial division and the other
joining the distal cutaneous branch of the tibial nerve.
_P. p. jamesi_
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