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Serially arranged myofibers: An unappreciated variant in muscle architecture

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Abstract

Our comparative studies suggest that the length of myofibers in tetrapods is subject to an unappreciated degree of variability. Many mammalian strap muscles are composed of short, overlapping myofibers. This arrangement and its associated distribution pattern of motor endplates (neural control) appear to be general in birds and widespread in other tetrapods. Contrariwise, most muscles of primates appear to be composed of long myofibers. The implications of this variation for studies of development, neuromuscular control, and muscle function are largely unexplored.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, 43210-1293, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    A. S. Gaunt

  2. Department of Biology, The University of Michigan, 48109, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    C. Gans

Authors
  1. A. S. Gaunt
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  2. C. Gans
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Gaunt, A.S., Gans, C. Serially arranged myofibers: An unappreciated variant in muscle architecture. Experientia 48, 864–868 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02118420

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02118420

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