Macroscopic investigation of muscles affecting the ankle (articulatio tarsi) and digit joints (articulationes digiti pedis) in quail (coturnix coturnix) and pigeon (columba livia)

Abstract

The locomotor system consists of two separate parts, the passive motion system and the active locomotor system. While the passive locomotor system consists of bones and joints, the active locomotor system consists of muscles. The strongest connection between bones, joints and muscles is seen in the feet. Feet help different functions in poultry. One of these functions is the activity of the perch. Perching is an instinctive behavior, especially in chickens. There are different views on the perch. Among these views, the mechanisms reported as TKM and ODFM support each other. In our study, the muscles acting on the ankle and digit joints of quails and perching pigeons that do not have the ability to perch were examined macroscopically. For this purpose, hind legs of 20 adult quails and 20 adult pigeons were used. Live weights were determined with a precision scale. They were euthanized by cervical dislocation. After the right and left legs of the euthanized animals were separated from the body, their left legs were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution for dissection. Dissection was carried out simultaneously for both species. As a result of the study, it was determined that MFDL and MFHL muscle tendons, cartilage protrusions at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joint and pits in the tendon sheaths were more prominent in pigeons than in quails. If these protrusions and pits perform the perching activity by locking together like a zipper, it can be interpreted that pigeons are more suitable for perching activity than quails anatomically