OCR Text |
Show 1882.] ANATOMY OF PROTELES. 585 Viverra, but resembles that of H. striata, in the possession of only a single head of origin, the reflected head being absent. The soleus in Proteles, as in H. crocuta, is absent, whereas in Viverra that muscle is present. The plantaris resembles the corresponding muscle of H. crocuta, and differs from that of 77. striata and Viverra inasmuch as it is not prolonged to the sole of the foot. The popliteus is of relatively smaller size in Proteles than in H. crocuta, the belly of the muscle being confined to the upper third of the tibia. The tibialis posticus of Proteles resembles that of Viverra in the possession of a fibular head of origin. This head is absent in H. crocuta. The tendon of the muscle in the latter is inserted into the entocuneiform and scaphoid bones ; whereas in Viverra and Proteles it is inserted into the scaphoid bone alone. The flexor brevis digitorum is represented only by tendon, as in H. crocuta, but differs from the latter inasmuch as that tendon is quite continuous with the plantaris. In H. striata and Viverra the flexor brevis digitorum has a distinct muscular belly. The origin of the flexor longus digitorum in Proteles differs from that of IL. crocuta inasmuch as its inner head arises not only from the head of the fibula, but also from the oblique line of the tibia. The outer head arises, as in H. crocuta, from the fibula alone. In Viverra, on the other hand, the outer head of the flexor longus is attached to both bones of the leg. The flexor accessorius is absent. Proteles in this respect resembles H. striata and differs from II. crocuta and Viverra. The lumbricales of Proteles resemble those of H. crocuta in being three in number. They are inserted into the second, third, and fourth toes. The inner toe has no lumbrical muscle. In Viverra there are four lumbrical muscles. The tibialis anticus in Proteles resembles that of H. crocuta in having two tendons, one of which is inserted into the entocuneiform, the other into the first metatarsal bone. In Viverra the origin of this muscle differs from that of Proteles inasmuch as it arises from both bones of the leg, and has only one tendon of insertion, which is inserted into the first metatarsal bone. In Proteles, as in H. crocuta, the extensor hallucis is represented merely by a slip from the tendon of the tibialis anticus. In Viverra, on the other hand, the muscle is well developed. The tendon of the extensor longus digitorum of Proteles divides, as in Viverra, into four slips for the four anterior toes. In II. crocuta there are only three slips, which are inserted into the second, third, and fourth toes. The extensor brevis digitorum of Proteles differs from that of H. crocuta and II. striata in giving off only two tendons, which pass to the second and third toes. In Hyana three tendons are given off by this muscle, which are inserted into the second, third, and fourth toes, while in Viverra there are four tendons, which pass to the four inner toes. |