Mm. flexores breves

WHIDDEN, HOWARD P., 2000, Comparative Myology of Moles and the Phylogeny of the Talpidae (Mammalia, Lipotyphla), American Museum Novitates 3294, pp. 1-53 : 32-33

Mm. flexores breves ( fig. 13 )

In Uropsilus , there is a medial and a lateral flexor for each digit. These muscles originate from connective tissue over the carpo­metacarpal joints, and insert on either side of the paired sesamoids that lie on the palmar surfaces of the metacarpo­phalangeal joints. Galemys is similar, except that the tendons insert in connective tissue on the sides of the digits. Galemys also has a heavy ligament between each pair of muscles. This ligament originates from the metacarpal and attaches to the metacarpo­phalangeal sesamoid (the metacarpo­phalangeal sesamoids are single in talpids other than Uropsilus ). In Desmana , there is a single flexor brevis element for each digit, and this originates from connective tissue over the carpo­metacarpal joint and inserts on the appropriate metacarpophalangeal sesamoid. In the other study taxa,

the Mm. flexores breves have apparently been lost or replaced by tendons.

REMARKS: Reed (1951) discussed the use of the name ‘‘flexores breves’’ for the deep podial flexors in soricids and talpids. In the Remarks section for M. abductor pollicis brevis, I noted how my interpretation of Mm. flexores breves differs from his.

PELVIC LIMB MUSCULATURE

Iliacus Group

Figures

Fig. 13. Intrinsic muscles of the manus of Galemys.