Morphological analysis of the hindlimb in apes and humans. I. Muscle architecture.

Full Abstract

We present quantitative data on the hindlimb musculature of Pan paniscus, Gorilla gorilla gorilla, Gorilla gorilla graueri, Pongo pygmaeus abelii and Hylobates lar and discuss the findings in relation to the locomotor habits of each. Muscle mass and fascicle length data were obtained for all major hindlimb muscles. Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) was estimated. Data were normalized assuming geometric similarity to allow for comparison of animals of different size/species. Muscle mass scaled closely to (body mass)(1.0) and fascicle length scaled closely to (body mass)(0.3) in most species. However, human hindlimb muscles were heavy and had short fascicles per unit body mass when compared with non-human apes. Gibbon hindlimb anatomy shared some features with human hindlimbs that were not observed in the non-human great apes:
limb circumferences tapered from proximal-to-distal, fascicle lengths were short per unit body mass and tendons were relatively long. Non-human great ape hindlimb muscles were, by contrast, characterized by long fascicles arranged in parallel, with little/no tendon of insertion. Such an arrangement of muscle architecture would be useful for locomotion in a three dimensionally complex arboreal environment.

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Author information

Author/s: Payne, R C (RC); Crompton, R H (RH); Isler, K (K); Savage, R (R); Vereecke, E E (EE); Günther, M M (MM); Thorpe, S K S (SK); D'Août, K (K);

Affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK. rpayne(-atsign-)rvc.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of anatomy (J Anat), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jun; vol 208 (issue 6) : pp 709-24

Dates: Created 2006/06/09; Completed 2006/10/05; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 16761973, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Female
Gorilla gorilla - anatomy & histology
Hindlimb - anatomy & histology
Humans
Hylobates - anatomy & histology

Locomotion - physiology
Male
Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology
Pan paniscus - anatomy & histology
Pongo pygmaeus - anatomy & histology
Tendons - anatomy & histology

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