Zhang et al. • CHINESE GROUSE MYOLOGY 
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FIG. 1. Lateral view of the superficial muscles of the 
thigh and shank of the Chinese Grouse. Abbreviations: AIF, 
Ansa m. iliofibularis; FB. M. fibularis brevis: FCLP. M. 
Ilexor cruris lateralis; FCM, M. Ilexor cruris medialis; FDL, 
M flexor digitorum longus: FL, M fihulans longus; 
IIW2. M. flexor perforans ct perforatus digiti II: FPPD3, 
M flexor perforans et perforatus digiti III; GAL, Pars 
hiteralis of M. gastrocnemius; GAM, Pars medialis of M. 
gastrocnemius; 1C, M. iliotibialis cranialis; IF, M. iliofibu- 
.ms IL. M. iliotibialis lateralis. 
r °lic in the cranial two-thirds, and fleshy in the 
caudal third. The thin, expansive, sheet-like belly 
is closely attached to M. iliotibialis cranialis 
cranially and to M. flexor cruris lateralis caudally, 
concealing M. iliotrochantcriei, Mm. femorotibia- 
lis externus and medius, M. iliofemoralis ex- 
ternus, and the proximal two-thirds of M. 
iliofibularis. There arc two distinct, large aponeu¬ 
rotic portions at the proximal and distal ends of 
the belly. The insertion contributes, together with 
M. iliotibialis cranialis and Mm. femorotibialis. to 
Ihe formation of the patellar ligament. 
M. iliofibularis (Figs. 1. 2, 4, 5: IF) is a large, 
triangular muscle that arises mainly by fleshy 
libers from nearly the entire dorsolateral crest of 
the ilium, ventral to the overlying M. iliotibialis 
lateralis. The belly passes down the back of the 
thigh deep and caudal to M. iliotibialis lateralis. 
FIG. 2. Lateral view of a second layer of muscles of the 
thigh and shank of the Chinese Grouse. Abbreviations: AIF, 
Ansa m. iliofibularis; CFC, M. caudofemoralis pars 
caudalis; CFP. M. caudofemoralis pars pelvica: FB, M. 
fibularis brevis; FCLA. Pars accessoria of M. flexor cruris 
lateralis; FCLP. M. flexor cruris lateralis; FCM. M. flexor 
cruris medialis: FDL. M. flexor digitorum longus; FPD4. 
M. flexor perforans digiti IV; FPPD2. M. flexor perforans et 
perforatus digiti II; FPPD3. M. flexor perforans et 
perforatus digiti III; f-TE, M. femorotibialis externus; IF. 
M. iliofibularis; IFF, M. iliofemoralis externus: ISF, M. 
ischinfemoralis; ITCD, M. iliotrochantericus caudalis; 
ITCR. M. iliotrochantericus cranialis; PTF. M. pubo- 
ischio-femoralis; TC, M. tibialis cranialis. 
and superficial to M. caudofemoralis, M. ischiofc- 
moralis. and pars accessoria of M. flexor cruris 
lateralis, finally tapering to a strong tendon behind 
the knee. The tendon, together with the blood 
vessels and nerves, passes through the ligamentous 
ansa m. iliofibularis (Figs. 1.2,4: AIF) and inserts 
on tuberculum m. iliofibularis on the fibula. 
M. ambiens (Fig. 4: AM) is one of the most 
medial muscles of the thigh and arises by a short 
tendon front the tuberculum preacctabulare. The 
narrow, spindle-shaped belly extends between M. 
femorotibialis ntedius and M. iliotibialis cranialis, 
and gives rise to a thin tendon above the knee. The 
tendon passes diagonally through the patellar 
ligament to the lateral side of the knee, and continues 
downw ard deep to the tendon of M. iliofibularis. The 
tendon gives origin to M. flexores perforati digiti 11, 
III. and IV in the upper part of the crus. 
M. iliotrochantericus caudalis (Fig. 2: ITCD) 
lies deep to M. iliotibialis cranialis and M. 
