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
No constant differences in the muscles or nerves was found between _T.
cupido pinnatus_ and _T. cupido attwateri_. Only one constant difference
was found between _T. cupido_ and _T. pallidicinctus_: a thicker fleshy
origin of M. extensor iliotibialis lateralis in _T. cupido_ (associated
with a thicker edge of the lateral iliac process).
Although no constant differences in the nerves were found between
_Pedioecetes_ and _Tympanuchus_ (both species), 17 constant differences
in the muscles were found between these two genera. Seven of these
differences pertain to features of a single muscle--M. flexor cruris
medialis. Compared with the condition in _Tympanuchus_, M. flexor cruris
medialis in _Pedioecetes_ has a wider origin, a partly fleshy (instead
of entirely tendinous) origin, a more pronounced curvature of the line
of origin, a wider insertion, an insertion posterior (rather than
anterior) to the medial collateral ligament, an insertion that attaches
in part to the articular capsule, and a shorter tendon of insertion
(resulting in the fusion of the common insertional tendon of Mm. flexor
cruris lateralis and femorocruralis with the fleshy belly rather than
with the insertional tendon). Other differences include the following. A
more extensive posteroproximal aponeurosis of M. extensor iliotibialis
lateralis in _Pedioecetes_ (resulting in a narrower fleshy origin); a
more nearly straight line of origin of this muscle (associated with a
less pronounced lateral iliac process); a thinner fleshy origin of this
muscle (associated with a thinner edge of the lateral iliac process); a
wider M. flexor cruris lateralis that is fleshy up to the origin from
the vertebrae; a wider fleshy origin of M. iliacus; the origin of M.
caudofemoralis pars iliofemoralis not reaching the ventral edge of the
ischium; a narrower origin of M. adductor superficialis; a wider M.
femorocruralis; and a shorter belly of M. extensor digitorum longus.
Some additional differences between these two genera, which are slight
in degree, are given in the accounts of the muscles. If additional
specimens were studied, some of the differences listed above possibly
would prove to be subject to individual variation and so could not
properly be listed as constant differences between the two genera.
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