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
Appleton (1928), studied (in various birds) only those muscles of the
hip and thigh that are innervated by the tibial and peroneal nerves. He
terms the former "ischiadicus ventralis" and the latter "ischiadicus
dorsalis." His findings did not differ from mine.
Many differences in the innervation of specific muscles are reported in
the literature, even in the same species (by different workers). Some of
these differences may be real; others are probably misinterpretations.
Consequently more work needs to be done before a complete understanding
can be obtained of the innervation of the leg muscles of birds.
Especially needed are studies of the tibial-peroneal nerve relationship,
perhaps approached by a method other than gross dissection.
SUMMARY
The muscles and nerves were dissected in eight legs of the Lesser
Prairie Chicken (_Tympanuchus pallidicinctus_), six legs of the Greater
Prairie Chicken (_T. cupido pinnatus_), three legs of Attwater's Prairie
Chicken (_T. c. attwateri_), and six legs of the Sharp-tailed Grouse
(_Pedioecetes phasianellus jamesi_) for the purpose of obtaining
information on individual variation as well as variation between these
closely related species. Relatively little information is available
regarding the nerves of the leg of birds and little is known about
individual variation and variation between closely related forms in the
muscles of the leg of birds.
All osteological terms used in the present paper are defined and those
of the pelvis are illustrated. New terms were coined for some structures
for which no names could be found in the literature. Terms were also
coined for the major divisions of the femoral and sciatic nerves. With
three exceptions, my muscle terminology follows that of Fisher (1946)
and Fisher and Goodman (1955). Their term femoritibialis externus is not
used here; the muscle so named is considered to be a part of M. vastus
lateralis. Fisher's accessory head of M. flexor cruris lateralis is
considered to be a distinct muscle--M. femorocruralis. Usage of the term
obturator internus is avoided because the muscle so named is considered
not to be homologous with the mammalian muscle of the same name; the
entire obturator complex is called M. obturator, and is subdivided into
four parts.
The typical (most common) condition of the nerves and muscles in
_Tympanuchus pallidicinctus_ is described in detail. Variations from
this condition among the other birds studied are then described. All
muscles of one leg of _T. pallidicinctus_ are illustrated. Several
variations in the muscles are also illustrated. The lumbosacral plexus
and nerves of the leg in several specimens that show variations are
illustrated.
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