Descriptive and Comparative Myology of the Forelimb of the Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa L. 1758)

Abstract

A description is given of the anatomy of the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the forelimb of the babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa, L. 1758). Three adult animals, two males and a female were dissected and the results compared with the previously published information. Significant differences were found between the accounts, and these were analysed within the context of material availability and advances in anatomical nomenclature. Comparisons made with published descriptions of the pig (Sus scrofa) showed that the muscular anatomy of the two species is very similar. Four structures are present in the babirusa but not in the pig; the M. pronator teres is completely tendinous, a tendon branch from the Caput craniale m. extensor digitorum lateralis anastomoses with the tendon of the Caput intermedium m. extensor digitorum communis to the fourth digit, there is an additional small deep portion of the M. supraspinatus and a bundle of fibres from the M. pectoralis profundus inserts on the intersectio clavicularis. Four structures present in the pig but not the babirusa are an additional insertion from the M. cleido-occipitalis into the raphe of the neck, an extra medial insertion of the M. infraspinatus, the accessory tendinous origin of the M. flexor digitorum profundus and the ulnar head of the M. flexor carpi ulnaris.

The phylogeny of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens): evidence from the forelimb

“…Finally, as m. coracobrachialis is present in other members of the Fereuungulata (sensu Waddell et al 1999), such as perissodactyls and artiodactyls, its presence in some carnivores, including Ailurus, is likely to be primitive ( Fig. 4; Table 4) (Gratiolet, 1867;Macalister, 1873c;Beddard & Treves, 1889;Windle & Parsons, 1901;Campbell, 1935Campbell, , 1936Getty, 1975b;Sisson, 1975;Macdonald et al 1985;Nickel et al 1986;Smuts & Bezuidenhout, 1987;Kneepkens et al 1989;Fisher et al 2007).…”

“…In perissodactyls and artiodactyls, a humeral origin for m. flexor digitorum superficialis is the rule. Although the muscle can sometimes have a secondary origin from the surface of m. flexor digitorum profundus, a medial epicondyle origin is constant in these groups (Gratiolet, 1867;Beddard & Treves, 1889;Windle & Parsons, 1901;Kajava, 1923;Campbell, 1935Campbell, , 1936Getty, 1975b;Sisson, 1975;Nickel et al 1986;Kneepkens et al 1989;Fisher et al 2007). The exception is Camelus, which has an entirely tendinous superficial flexor that is confined to the manus (Smuts & Bezuidenhout, 1987).…”

“…Apart from Camelus, perissodactyls and artiodactyls are characterized by a single belly of m. biceps brachii, the caput longum (Gratiolet, 1867;Macalister, 1873c;Beddard & Treves, 1889;Windle & Parsons, 1901;Campbell, 1935Campbell, , 1936Getty, 1975b;Sisson, 1975;Nickel et al 1986;Smuts & Bezuidenhout, 1987;Kneepkens et al 1989;Fisher et al 2007). Although many ungulates have reduced lateral digits and an associated reduction of the distal forelimb musculature, the caput breve is also absent in ungulates (e.g.…”

Forelimb myology of the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)

“…The myology of the hippo forelimb was then compared with published accounts of other artiodactyls, including Sus (Windle and Parsons, 1901;Kajava, 1923;Campbell, 1935Campbell, , 1936Sisson, 1975a;Nickel et al, 1986), Potamochoerus (Windle and Parsons, 1901;Kajava, 1923), Babyrousa (Windle and Parsons, 1901;Macdonald et al, 1985;Kneepkens et al, 1989), Tayassu (Windle and Parsons, 1901), Pecari (Kajava, 1923;Campbell, 1935Campbell, , 1936Dalzell, 1970), domestic ruminants (Windle and Parsons, 1901;Getty, 1975;Nickel et al, 1986), Tragulus (Windle and Parsons, 1901;Kajava, 1923;Jouffroy et al, 1971), Hyemoschus (Windle and Parsons, 1901;Dalzell, 1970;Jouffroy et al, 1971), Giraffa (Windle and Parsons, 1901), Cervus (Windle and Parsons, 1901), Odocoileus (Dalzell, 1970), Ovibos (Windle and Parsons, 1901), Cephalophus (Windle and Parsons, 1901), Antilocarpra (Dalzell, 1970), and Camelus (Windle and Parsons, 1901;Smuts and Bezuidenhout, 1987). Myological differences between hippos and other artiodactyls were then compared with published accounts of perissodactyls, including Dicerorhinus (Beddard and Treves, 1889;Windle and Parsons, 1901;Jouffroy et al, 1971), Equus …”

“…lumbricales are represented by a few muscle fibers running between the deep flexor tendon and the deep belly of the superficial flexor. Kneepkens et al (1989) argue that m. lumbricalis II is present in Sus, but is mislabeled ''m. flexor digiti II (brevis)'' (e.g., sensu Nickel et al, 1986).…”