Variation in the Muscles and Nerves of the Leg in Two Genera of Grouse (Tympanuchus and Pedioecetes)

by E. Bruce Holmes

Individual Variation.—In both legs of one specimen, the branch to M. flexor cruris medialis arises from the posterior (rather than the middle) tibial division; in three legs, this branch arises as an independent division of the tibial nerve ([Fig. 6]). (Only in one leg does this branch arise as in T. pallidicinctus.) The branch to M. flexor cruris medialis perforates the lateral part of M. flexor ischiofemoralis in one instance. In all legs except one (nerve possibly destroyed), a second twig to M. flexor ischiofemoralis arises from the branch to M. flexor cruris medialis ([Fig. 6]). In one leg ([Fig. 9]), an additional branch, arising as an independent division of the sciatic nerve, enters M. extensor iliofibularis distal to the point of entrance of the dorsal peroneal division; this extra branch arises posterior (adjacent) to the dorsal peroneal division, but it could not be determined with certainty whether it arises from the peroneal or tibial component. A minute twig from the branch to M. flexor cruris medialis passes posteriorly and joins the pudendal plexus in one leg ([Fig. 6]); in another, a similar twig is present but could not be traced to its termination. In nearly all the legs, minute twigs come off the peroneal nerve near the middle of the thigh and enter M. extensor iliofibularis ([Fig. 6]). In both legs of one specimen, the paraperoneal branch enters the peroneal sheath (although separable from the peroneal nerve). The distal branch to M. femorocruralis gives off a long twig to M. gastrocnemius pars media in one instance ([Fig. 6]).

Peroneal Nerve, [Fig. 10]

T. pallidicinctus

Description.—The branch that is given off in the thigh has been discussed above. The peroneal nerve passes, with the paraperoneal branch of the tibial nerve, through the guide loop for M. extensor iliofibularis. The peroneal nerve diverges from the paraperoneal branch and passes along the anterior (proximal) edge of the tendon of M. extensor iliofibularis medial to the common tendon of the lateral heads of Mm. flexor perforatus digiti IV and flexor perforatus digiti II and lateral to the common tendon of the anterolateral heads of Mm. flexor perforatus digiti IV, flexor perforatus digiti II, and flexor perforatus digiti III.

The peroneal nerve soon gives off a spray of branches that supplies the following: femoral head of M. tibialis anticus, tibial head of M. tibialis anticus (branch passes deep to femoral head), M. extensor digitorum longus (branch passes deep to tibial head of M. tibialis anticus), and M. peroneus longus. A part of the nerve may or may not pass through a notch in the proximal end of the lateral head of M. flexor digitorum longus. The nerve then extends distally along the anterolateral edge of the latter muscle and subdivides into two long branches. Gadow (1891) termed these branches the superficial peroneal and the deep peroneal; his terminology will be used here.

The superficial peroneal branch, after giving off, near its proximal end, one or two twigs into M. peroneus brevis, passes lateral to the retinaculum for the tendon of M. tibialis anticus, then across the intratarsal joint lateral to the latter, then lateral to the insertion of M. tibialis anticus, where the branch subdivides. One of the two resulting branches gives one or two twigs into M. extensor brevis digiti IV, then terminates nonmuscularly in the digits. The other branch passes between the main and accessory insertions of M. tibialis anticus and joins the branch of the deep peroneal which supplies M. abductor digiti II. (See next paragraph.)

The deep peroneal branch passes through the retinaculum for the tendon of M. tibialis anticus, lying lateral, then deep, then medial to the latter; it crosses the intratarsal joint medial to the latter. Immediately above the insertion of M. tibialis anticus, the deep peroneal branch divides, one branch passing on each side of the main insertion. The branch passing lateral to the main insertion passes between the latter and the accessory insertion (medial to the latter) and is joined by a branch of the superficial peroneal nerve. This fused branch extends distally between Mm. extensor hallucis longus and extensor brevis digiti IV and medial to M. extensor brevis digiti III, giving twigs into the latter and into M. abductor digiti II before terminating nonmuscularly in the digits. The branch of the deep peroneal nerve that passes medial to the main insertion of M. tibialis anticus gives one or two twigs into the proximal head of M. extensor hallucis longus, then terminates nonmuscularly in the digits.

Individual Variation.—In four legs, the branch of the superficial peroneal nerve that usually joins the lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve is lacking ([Fig. 10]B). In these legs it can be seen that Mm. extensor brevis digiti III and abductor digiti II are supplied by the deep peroneal nerve.

T. cupido

Individual Variation.—In two legs, the same branch that gives twigs into the proximal head of M. extensor hallucis longus also sends a twig into the distal head of this muscle ([Fig. 10]C).