Abstract
The auricular muscles correspond to the group of facial muscles that allows the auricle to move freely. The shape of the auricle and the location of the muscles on the head differs among species. The rabbit has eight auricular muscles that are innervated by motoneurons originating from the facial nucleus located on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata. However, the distribution within the facial nucleus of the motoneurons that innervate each auricular muscle has not been defined clearly. In the present study, retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase was used to identify groups of facial motoneurons in the rabbit. Our results show that the medial subnucleus of the facial nucleus projects primarily to the auricular muscles, and that each auricular muscle is innervated by a specific group of motoneurons distributed in a particular region of the medial subnucleus. This motoneuron patterning appears to be a species-specific characteristic of the innervation of the auricular muscles.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
