Mammalian Muscular System
oblique; a middle internal oblique; and an internal
The muscular system of mammals derives directly from that of
reptiles, and its general organization can be understood by reference
to the foregoing account of reptilian musculature. The adult
musculature of mammals exhibits only slight evidence of the original
segmentation. With complete elevation of the trunk above the
ground there is further differentiation of the limb musculature into
individual muscles, permitting a variety of movements, and still
greater spread of the shoulder and hip musculature over the trunk.
The branchial musculature is not greatly altered from its reptilian
state.
Dermal or Integumental Muscles
- muscle sheets which have acquired insertion on the
skin and which act to move the skin or skin structures
such as hairs, scales, bristles, etc.
- are extensions of trunk musculature, especially of the
pectoral muscle, or of branchial muscles, such as the
trapezius and hyoid constrictor
- last named is the source of the flatysma, the dermal
muscle of the head, with numerous subdivisions
acting to move the lips, cheeks, eyelids, ears, etc
1. panniculus carnosus or cutaneous maximus
- covers the entire lateral surface of the thorax and
abdomen, being more prominent anteriorly
- chiefly an outgrowth of the pectoral muscles and has
various parts in different mammals.
2. Platysma
- found on the under surface of the skin of the neck
and head, and consists of many different parts,
bearing separate names
- inserted on the skin of the ears, eyelids, lips, etc., and
serves to move them; in man it constitutes the
muscles of facial expression
- branchial muscle, derived from the muscles of the
hyoid arch by extension
3. lumhodorsalfascia
- sheet that covers the posterior half of the back
4. Linea Alba
- Midventral line
5. inguinal region
- angle between the base of the thigh and the
abdominal wall
6. inguinal ligament
- At the bottom of this will be found in the rabbit a
stout white shining cord
- stretches from the pubic symphysis to the crest of the
ilium
- absent in the cat
7. axilla or axillary fossa
- angle between the upper arm and chest
The muscles of the abdominal wall
- The abdominal wall is composed of three layers of
muscles with their aponeuroses. The aponeuroses of
these muscles are quite extensive.
- The three layers are: an external layer, the external
layer, the transversus abdominus.
8. External oblique
- large muscle constituting the outermost layer of the
abdominal wall
9. Internal oblique
- The internal oblique is a short muscle lying beneath
the more dorsal portion of the external oblique.
- Its fibers are directed obliquely downward and
forward, and are continued by a very broad
aponeurosis.
10. Transverse
- a third muscle layer, very thin
- Its fibers are directed ventrally and slightly posteriorly
11. Rectus abdominis
- a long slender muscle on each side of the linea alba,
extending from the pubic symphysis to the anterior
part of the thorax
- found inside of and between the aponeuroses of the
preceding muscles
- Its fibers run longitudinally and in the cat are crossed
at regular intervals by white lines, the myosepta or
inscriptions
The foregoing muscles are hypaxial muscles, formed into sheets by
the sidewise fusion of myotomes. The rectus abdominis comes from
the ventral ends of the myotomes. The three layers of the sides of the
abdomen have resulted from a splitting process. The arrangement of
the hypaxial trunk musculature of the mammal is seen to be similar
to that of Necturus and reptiles.
The epaxial muscles
- a great thick mass of muscle inclosed in a tough
shining fascia
- sharply separated from the hypaxial muscles in the
abdominal region by a furrow corresponding to the
position of the horizontal skeletogenous septum of
lower vertebrates
- The epaxial mass in the lumbar region is divisible into
a slender, narrow median portion, corresponding to
the transversospinalis system of reptiles but called in
mammals the multifidus spinae, and a very thick
lateral portion, the sacrospinalis, divisible anteriorly
into three longitudinal partssemispinalis,
longissimus, and iliocostaliswhich will jbe followed
later. The resemblance of the epaxial systems to
those of reptiles is evident
12. Pedoantibrachialis.
- Anterior and most superficial of the chest muscles.
bPedoralis major. Next posterior to the preceding and extending
anteriorly dorsal to the preceding, which should be cut across;
originating on the sternum and median ventral raphe and inserted
on the humerus. Action, like the preceding. C
) Pedoralis minor. Next posterior to the preceding and covered in
large part by the pectoralis major. The latter should be cut through
and the extent of the pectoralis minor noted. The pectoralis minor is
divisible into several parts. Origin, sternum; insertion, humerus;
action, like the preceding. The insertion cannot be fully traced at the
present stage of the dissection.

d) Xiphihumeralis. The last of the chest muscles. A thin, flat, long

muscle, passing from the xiphoid process of the sternum, its anterior
part passing dorsal to the posterior part of the pectoralis minor, and
inserted on the humerus. The insertion is covered by a mass of fat in
the axilla. Remains of the cutaneous maximus are probably present
on its surface. Actiop like the preceding.