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

by E. Bruce Holmes

Individual Variation.—In one leg, a small accessory slip arises from the ventrolateral surface of the caudal musculature and joins the posterior edge of the main part of M. flexor cruris lateralis a short distance dorsal to the pubis. In several legs, the nerve does not perforate M. caudofemoralis pars iliofemoralis, but passes deep to it.

P. p. jamesi

Differences from Typical T. pallidicinctus.—The muscle is wider. The extreme proximal end is fleshy up to its origin, which is fleshy and tendinous from the vertebrae. The common insertional tendon of M. flexor cruris lateralis and M. femorocruralis fuses with the distal end of the fleshy part (instead of tendon) of M. flexor cruris medialis.

Individual Variation.—None of significance.

M. Flexor Cruris Medialis (M. semimembranosus), [Figs. 12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [20]E

T. pallidicinctus

General Description and Relations.—Most posterior muscle on medial surface of thigh; long and strap-shaped; bounded anteriorly by M. adductor profundus; posteroproximal corner of latter medial to anteroproximal part of M. flexor cruris medialis; bounded laterally by Mm. caudofemoralis (proximally) and flexor cruris lateralis (distally); anteroproximal corner adjacent to posteroventral corner of M. flexor ischiofemoralis and lateral to extreme posteroproximal corner of M. adductor superficialis; distal end tendinous, extending into proximal part of shank; bounded medially by M. gastrocnemius pars interna and laterally by Mm. gastrocnemius pars media and plantaris.

Origin.—The muscle arises by a wide flat tendon from a narrow line on the lateral surface of the ischium dorsal to the ventral ischiatic tubercle.

Insertion.—The wide flat tendon attaches to a narrow line on the medial surface of the proximal part of the tibiotarsus a short distance anterior to the proximal part of M. plantaris and deep to M. gastrocnemius pars interna; the proximal end attaches immediately anterior to the distal end of the medial collateral ligament. Part of the common tendon of Mm. flexor cruris lateralis and femorocruralis fuses with the lateral surface of the tendon of M. flexor cruris medialis, inserting in common with it.