Abstract
The hip region is examined to determine what aspects of musculoskeletal anatomy are precociously developed in primate species with highly specialized modes of locomotion. Muscles of the hind limb were removed and weighed in each specimen, and the hip joint of selected specimens was studied in stained serial sections. No perinatal differences among species are evident, but in adults, the hip joint of Galago moholi (a leaping specialist) appears to have proportionally thick articular cartilage (relative to the subchondral plate) compared to two species of cheirogaleids. Muscle mass distribution in the hind limbs confirms previous observations that the quadriceps femoris muscle is especially large in Galago (in percent mass of the entire hind limb), while the hip region is smaller compared to the more quadrupedal cheirogaleids. Across age groups, the species with the least specialized locomotion as adults, Cheirogaleus medius, shows little or no change in proximal to distal percentage distribution of muscle mass. Galago has a larger percentage mass gain in the thigh. We suggest that muscle mass gain to specific limb segments may be a critical milestone for primates with extremely specialized modes of locomotion.
Highlights
The hip region of primates varies considerably in morphology and relative dimensions, and previous investigations have identified correlates to positional and locomotor behaviors [2,3,4]
We investigated the ontogeny of muscle mass distribution in the hind limb of primates that use primarily leaping modes of locomotion versus arboreal or terrestrial quadrupedalism [1]
The hip musculature of G. moholi showed no notable departure from the description of hip musculature of G. senegalensis by Stevens et al [27]
Summary
The hip region of primates varies considerably in morphology and relative dimensions, and previous investigations have identified correlates to positional and locomotor behaviors [2,3,4] (and see Anemone, 1993 [5] for review). Leaping specialists (such as indriids, tarsioids, lepilemurids, and some galagids) have a more proximally positioned lesser and third trochanters [2, 5]. These primates have relatively large muscle compartments for hip extensors, knee extensors, or ankle plantarflexors, an adaptation related to emphasis on hind limb propulsion via leaping. In comparing leaping versus quadrupedal primates, certain aspects of the anatomy of the hip have received relatively little scrutiny. We investigated the ontogeny of muscle mass distribution in the hind limb of primates that use primarily leaping modes of locomotion versus arboreal or terrestrial quadrupedalism [1]. In this study, less emphasis was placed on the hip due to difficulty in dissecting the region in the smallest infants
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