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
In all instances except two (of 50) the typical condition of the muscles
in _T. pallidicinctus_ was also the typical condition in _T. cupido_.
The majority of the legs in _T. cupido_ had an additional dorsal slip on
the tendon of M. flexor digitorum longus in digits II and III. In all
instances except seven the typical condition in _T. pallidicinctus_ was
also the typical condition in _Pedioecetes_. In these seven instances a
variation in the former was the typical condition in the latter. These
were: an additional dorsal slip on the tendon of M. flexor digitorum
longus in each of three digits, a vinculum between the latter and M.
flexor perforatus digiti IV, a partly fleshy insertion of M. flexor
cruris medialis, an unossified lateral branch of the insertional tendon
of M. extensor digitorum longus, and an independent insertion of the
distalmost fibers of the distal head of M. extensor hallucis longus. For
all characters except the number of the dorsal slips on the tendon of M.
flexor digitorum longus in digits II and III, the typical condition in
_T. pallidicinctus_ was also the typical condition for all species
considered together. To facilitate comparison, in the following
discussion all of the above-mentioned characters are considered in all
species as variants from the typical condition.
Certain legs showed a greater number of variations from the typical
condition than did others. The majority of legs showed from four to
seven variations in the muscles of the leg. The extremes were P.p. 1L,
which showed 11, and T.c.p. 2L, which exhibited only one variation.
Twenty-three of the 50 variations were found in only one leg (out of
23). It would be expected that if additional specimens were studied,
more kinds of variations would be found. Nine variations were found in
only two legs, five in three legs, five in four legs, and four in five
legs. One variation was found in nine legs, one in ten legs, and two in
12 legs; the last four variations were in the number of dorsal slips of
the insertional tendon of M. flexor digitorum longus in digits II, III,
and IV and in the ossification of the insertional tendon of M. extensor
digitorum longus.
Five of the variations were found only in specimens in which only one
leg was dissected. Considering only those eight specimens in which both
legs were dissected, five of the 45 variations were found in both legs
of each specimen exhibiting the variation; 28 variations were found in
only one leg of each specimen exhibiting the variation; 12 variations
were found in both legs of some specimens but in only one leg of other
specimens. Of the six muscle features showing the greatest degree of
individual variation (described previously), only two (both pertaining
to M. caudofemoralis) were found in both legs of the specimens
exhibiting the variation.
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