Muscle study of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus riukiuanus). I. Gluteal and thigh muscles.

The gluteal and thigh muscles of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus riukiuanus) were macroscopically studied. The sartorius was not observed in any of the specimens examined. The gracilis was divided into two bellies. The semitendinosus had two heads of origin, the ischial and vertebral. However, most of the gluteal and thigh muscles of this animal were quite similar with respect to origin, insertion, and also nerve supply to those muscles of rodents and primates, including human beings. All the gluteal and thigh muscles observed in this study were tabulated (see Table 1) and compared with those reported by Sharma (1958) and Isomura (1968). Furthermore, the homology of these muscles to the corresponding muscles of the rodents and of human beings, was discussed in the text (see also Table 1).