Evidence from surface microscopy for recognition of fleshy and tendinous muscle insertion in extant vertebrate femora: implications for muscle reconstruction in fossils

Evidence from surface microscopy for recognition of fleshy and tendinous muscle insertion in extant vertebrate femora: implications for muscle reconstruction in fossils

Rothschild B M; Wilhite D R; McLeod D S; Ting H

Historical Biology

2016

2016-08

Recognition of muscle attachment sites and their modification has been an important tool in anthropologic and paleontologic research, but has been compromised by limited ability to recognise sites of tendinous attachments. We investigated bone-tendon (three sites) and bone-muscle (six sites) interfaces in six pairs of femora across a broad taxonomic spectrum of higher amniote archosaurs (both recent and fossil) by epi-illumination microscopy. Direct fleshy and indirect tendinous muscle attachments were identified by dissection of fresh specimens and examination of fossils and the surface microscopic changes identified at those locations. Examination revealed bone modifications specific to each type of muscle insertion, allowing them to be identified and distinguished. Application of a surface microscopy technique not only permits more confident localisation of tendinous attachments, but for the first time allows recognition of sites of direct fleshy muscle attachments - in a reproducible manner across phylogenetic lines.

attachment sites; bird; birds neornithes; bone-tendon; Dinosaur; entheseal changes; evolution; Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics; mammal; mechanical load; muscle; musculoskeletal stress markers; Paleontology; pelvic musculature; reptile; soft-tissues; tendon; upper-limb

Journal Article

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842-848

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