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
Considerable individual variation was found in both the muscles and the
nerves of the leg of the species studied. Certain muscles were more
variable than others. Mm. flexor digitorum longus, obturator,
caudofemoralis, and extensor hallucis longus showed the greatest number
of variations. Mm. vastus medialis, femoritibialis internus, flexor
perforatus digiti III, extensor brevis digiti III, and abductor digiti
IV did not exhibit any variations considered significant. Certain legs
showed a greater number of variations from the typical condition than
did others.
Although most of the variations were minor, some were major. M. extensor
proprius digiti III was present in two legs of _Pedioecetes_ but absent
in the other legs studied. A fleshy muscle slip connected M.
caudofemoralis pars caudifemoralis with the tendinous raphe between Mm.
flexor cruris lateralis and femorocruralis in two legs, whereas in
others this connection was tendinous or even absent altogether. M.
flexor cruris lateralis had an accessory slip arising from the caudal
musculature in one leg. A vinculum connected the insertional tendons of
Mm. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II and flexor perforatus
digiti II in one leg.
In most specimens there was as much variation between the muscles of the
right and left legs of one individual as there was between individuals.
The same was true for the nerves, except for the lumbosacral plexus, in
which there was no significant variation between the right and left
sides of any individual. The peroneal and obturator nerves varied less
than the other nerves.
No constant differences in the muscles or nerves was found between _T.
cupido pinnatus_ and _T. c. attwateri_. One constant difference was
found between _T. cupido_ and _T. pallidicinctus_: the fleshy origin of
M. extensor iliotibialis lateralis in _T. cupido_ was thicker
(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. Study of additional
specimens possibly would show enough individual variation in some of
these differences to reduce the number of constant differences to fewer
than 17. Seven of these differences pertain to features of a single
muscle--M. flexor cruris medialis. Some of the other differences are
associated with the thinner and much less pronounced lateral iliac
process in _Pedioecetes_. The picture of the differences between
_Tympanuchus_ and _Pedioecetes_ that this study presents is radically
different from that presented by the study of Hudson, _et al._ (1959).
The important differences in innervation between previous studies and
the present one are discussed.
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