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, the fleshy part of the anterior head is unusually long. In another leg, the anterior head is entirely tendinous. In one leg, a bundle of fibers of the posterior head attaches to the deep surface of the distal part of the patellar tendon. In one leg, near the middle of the tarsometatarsus a rather long and narrow but thick and strong vinculum arises from the tendon of M. flexor perforatus digiti II and, farther distally, joins the tendon of M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II.

T. cupido

Individual Variation.—In one leg, the posterior head arises in part from the distolateral edge of the patellar tendon and in another, in part from the superficial surface of the distolateral corner of the patellar tendon.

P. p. jamesi

Individual Variation.—None of significance.

M. Flexor Perforans et Perforatus Digiti III, [Figs. 12], [14]

T. pallidicinctus

General Description and Relations.—Thick, bipinnate; on lateral surface of proximal part of shank between two heads of M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II; bounded anteriorly by M. peroneus longus; anterior surface fused with tendinous anterior head of M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II; anterolateral edge somewhat fused to posterior edge of M. peroneus longus superficial to latter tendon; posterior surface fused to posterior head of M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II; distal part of belly covered by common belly of latter muscle; posteromedial edge fused to underlying lateral head of M. flexor perforatus digiti IV; anteromedial edge usually somewhat fused to underlying M. flexor digitorum longus.

Origin.—The origin is fleshy and tendinous from the edge of the outer cnemial crest and fleshy from the superficial surface of the distolateral part of the patellar tendon; the posteroproximal corner arises tendinously from the femorofibular fascia.

Insertion.—The belly narrows abruptly, terminating approximately at the middle of the shank; the slender ossified tendon extends posterodistally along the shank, becoming flexible before passing posterior to the tibial cartilage deep to the tendon of M. gastrocnemius, medial to the tendon of M. flexor perforatus digiti IV, and superficial to the medial half of the tendon of M. flexor perforatus digiti III; a thin sheet of connective tissue covers the tendon and attaches by its edges to the underlying tendon of M. flexor perforatus digiti III (thus the latter tendon forms a sheath for the tendon of M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II); the tendon is ossified for most of the length of the tarsometatarsus; at midlength of the latter, the tendon lies between the tendons of Mm. flexor perforatus digiti IV and flexor perforatus digiti III; near the distal end of the tarsometatarsus, the tendon becomes lateral and then deep to the tendon of M. flexor perforatus digiti III and is connected by a vinculum to the latter (which see). The tendon enters the ventral surface of digiti III between the tendons of Mm. flexor perforatus digiti III and flexor digitorum longus; after sending a dorsal slip (lateral to the tendon of M. flexor digitorum longus) to the subarticular cartilage ventral to the first interphalangeal joint, the tendon divides into two branches, between which emerges the tendon of M. flexor digitorum longus; the lateral branch attaches to the subarticular cartilage of the second interphalangeal joint and to the lateral surface of the distal end of the second phalanx; the medial branch has similar attachments on the medial side of the digit.