Journal of Anatomy最新文献

{"title":"Precision in anatomical classification requires precision in evidence.","authors":"Rebecca L Pratt, Helene Langevin, Laurice D Nemetz, Robert Schleip, Antonio Stecco, Carla Stecco, Neil D Theise","doi":"10.1111/joa.70249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.70249","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13633415/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149110068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The feline sacroiliac joint: An overview of its innervation and morphology.","authors":"Alexandra S Klick, Thomas Grochow, Mirjam Kalusa, Simone A Fietz, Christoph K W Mülling, Nicole Röhrmann","doi":"10.1111/joa.70252","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.70252","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) serves as a central interface for force transmission from the hindlimbs to the axial skeleton in animals of all species. Its specialized morphology reflects this functional requirement, comprising a smooth auricular surface and a rugose tuberosity covered by interosseous ligaments. In both human and equine medicine, the SIJ is recognized as a primary source of varied back pain. Despite its biomechanical and clinical significance, very limited data exist in small animal medicine concerning the structure, innervation, and clinical relevance of the SIJ. The present study investigated the morphological variation and innervation of the SIJ in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Macroscopic assessment of the joint's innervation was performed on 40 specimens, and 20 dorsal sacroiliac ligaments were analyzed microscopically for the presence of nervous tissue. Additionally, the individual components of the joint were scanned three-dimensionally and measured. The auricular surfaces were subsequently categorized into distinct morphological types. Current investigations have revealed that the dorsal branches of the seventh lumbar and the first sacral spinal nerves course dorsally within the dorsal sacroiliac ligaments, which was confirmed microscopically. Analysis of the size and shape of the articular surfaces showed that the auricular surface can be classified into five different morphological types. No evidence of sexual dimorphism was detected. However, interindividual variation in the size of specific joint components was observed. These findings provide an initial anatomical basis for a better understanding of the SIJ of domestic cats. This enhanced understanding can help optimize diagnostic or therapeutic approaches in small animal medicine. The results therefore may contribute to a preliminary framework for future clinical studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13633417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149110088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What jaws and teeth reveal: Tracing fine-scale ecological adaptation in two Cypriot mice.","authors":"Morgane Dubied, Emilie A Hardouin, George P Mitsainas, Sabrina Renaud","doi":"10.1111/joa.70246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.70246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anatomical structures can capture evolutionary history as well as short-term ecological adjustments, but distinguishing these signals remains challenging at fine spatial and temporal scales. In murine rodents, representing one of the most diverse mammalian radiations, mandibular and dental morphology provide powerful markers of both phylogenetic divergence and feeding-related adaptation. This study investigates these signatures in two mouse species co-occurring on the island of Cyprus: the introduced house mouse Mus musculus domesticus and the endemic Mus cypriacus. Although morphologically similar and occasionally syntopic, the two species differ in habitat use and dietary strategies, ranging from anthropogenic resources in M. m. domesticus to a more natural and diversified trophic niche in M. cypriacus. Using 3D geometric morphometrics, shape variation of mandibles and molars was quantified, allowing to identify interspecific differences, allometric patterns, and age-related trajectories of dental wear. The morphometric descriptors were questioned regarding their respective ability to trace phylogenetic divergence, ecological specialization, and ontogenetic dynamics. The results highlight how subtle morphological descriptors can reveal fine-scale ecological processes and species-specific adaptive pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13627776/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149110103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Re: 'Towards a comprehensive definition of the human fascial system'.","authors":"John Sharkey","doi":"10.1111/joa.70250","DOIUrl":"10.1111/joa.70250","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617256/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149069713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative architecture and structural boundaries of the subdigital adhesive toe pads of Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758) and guidelines for toe pad demarcation in other geckos.","authors":"Anthony P Russell, Sonia M Delannoy, Austin M Garner","doi":"10.1111/joa.70251","DOIUrl":"10.1111/joa.70251","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many species of gecko and all but one species of anole possess enlarged, serially arranged scales on the ventral surfaces of their digits that collectively are referred to as toe pads. These are commonly considered key innovations and have been the subject of many studies within and beyond the biological sciences. The definition of squamate toe pads, however, remains vague. This is particularly problematic for comparative morphological and biomechanical studies wherein toe pad area is commonly employed as a dependent or independent variable or covariate. Lack of a standardized means of delimitation of toe pads impedes accurate measurement of these ecologically and evolutionarily important features and compromises effective comparison between species and studies. Herein, we take a comprehensive approach to the delimitation of the toe pads of the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko), the species of gecko most frequently studied in relation to the phenomenon of gecko adhesion. In addition to consideration of the broadly adopted, but somewhat arbitrarily delineated, circumscription of toe pads based on characteristics of scale dimensions alone, we also investigate their boundaries by examining the relationship between subdigital scales and subcutaneous anatomical features (employing osteological and tendon-based [TB] criteria). We find that the methods employing only external dimensions of subdigital scales to delimit toe pads overestimate their area, thereby resulting in functional studies that likely underestimate toe pad adhesive stress (force per unit area). Of the two approaches that anatomically delimit toe pads, that based upon tendinous connections (demarcating what we refer to as the LDT region of the digits) encompasses all epidermal filaments that are true setae (those bearing spatulate tips), the only structures empirically validated to facilitate whole-animal adhesion. As such, we encourage future studies to employ the TB approach to accurately delimit gekkotan (and anoline) toe pads in a functionally and anatomically meaningful (and standardized) fashion and provide guidelines about how this can be achieved.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617260/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149069633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Desmin is not ubiquitously expressed in head and neck muscle fibers.","authors":"Per Stål, Jingxia Liu, Fatima Pedrosa Domellöf, Farhan Shah","doi":"10.1111/joa.70240","DOIUrl":"10.1111/joa.70240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Desmin, a major muscle-specific intermediate filament protein, is widely regarded as a ubiquitous component of mature skeletal muscle fibers. However, recent observations in human extraocular and palatal muscles indicate that a subset of fibers lack or show very weak desmin expression. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of desmin in 21 different adult, two toddler, and one fetal human head and neck muscles. The samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and, in one muscle group, also by in situ hybridization for desmin mRNA. Two limb muscles, the biceps brachii and the vastus lateralis, served as controls. In limb muscles, all fibers consistently exhibited desmin immunoreactivity. In contrast, fibers with absent or very weak desmin immunoreactivity were identified across all examined head and neck muscles, with substantial variation between muscle groups. These fibers were predominantly associated with the slow MyHC1 phenotype. A similar pattern was also observed in infant and fetal samples. In longitudinal sections, some fibers showed segmental absence of desmin along their length. In situ hybridization demonstrated absent or markedly reduced desmin mRNA in fibers with absent or reduced desmin immunoreactivity. Taken together, this study provides the first evidence that subsets of myofibers in most human head and neck muscles lack desmin immunoreactivity, indicating that desmin is not ubiquitous in all myofibers in these muscles. These findings reveal previously unrecognized cytoskeletal heterogeneity within human head and neck musculature. The functional significance of fibers lacking or showing very weak desmin immunoreactivity remains to be determined.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13589113/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149001938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"African ape carpal morphology is not too specialized to represent the ancestral hominin carpus.","authors":"Laura E Hunter, Matthew W Tocheri, Caley M Orr, Biren A Patel, Zeresenay Alemseged","doi":"10.1111/joa.70241","DOIUrl":"10.1111/joa.70241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>How and why hominins evolved key behaviors, such as obligate bipedalism and sophisticated tool production, are key questions in paleoanthropology. Crucial to this inquiry are accurate reconstructions of the morphology and behavior that characterized the panin-hominin last common ancestor (LCA). Because all extant hominines besides Homo sapiens knuckle-walk, this rare hand posture has received special attention as a possible behavior in the LCA's locomotor repertoire. Arguments concerning knuckle-walking ancestry in hominins typically examine functional morphology to explore possible adaptations to knuckle-walking or leverage biological principles to evaluate the likelihood of certain evolutionary scenarios. Because wrist biomechanics in knuckle walking differ from those of other behaviors, carpals are frequently investigated for possible knuckle-walking specializations. Here, we quantified carpal morphology using spherical harmonics analysis to reevaluate purported knuckle-walking adaptations among an anthropoid sample with variable locomotor behaviors. We calculated Euclidean distances between behavioral pairs to investigate whether the carpals in knuckle-walking taxa appear specialized relative to those of other taxa. Results show that nearly all hypothesized knuckle-walking adaptations are broadly present in anthropoids, and several are specially shared with Asian apes. Some African ape carpal features are shared uniquely with humans and may signal knuckle-walking ancestry. These results overall suggest that (1) the carpals of African apes are not specialized for knuckle walking; (2) to evolve knuckle walking, only few morphological changes to ancestral hominid carpals are necessary; and (3) an African ape-like carpus is not too specialized to be a viable ancestral form from which the hominin carpus evolved.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13586067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148990064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative anatomy of the flexor digitorum brevis in hominids.","authors":"Tohma Sakuraya, Kenji Emura, Eishi Hirasaki, Takamitsu Arakawa, Takahiro Sonomura","doi":"10.1111/joa.70244","DOIUrl":"10.1111/joa.70244","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) is a key intrinsic foot muscle that contributes not only to toe flexion but also to energy absorption and generation during bipedal locomotion in humans. Despite its functional importance, the homology among hominid species and morphological alterations during evolution in each species of the FDB remain insufficiently understood. A more detailed morphological analysis, particularly a comparative analysis of origin sites and innervation, is necessary to clarify the homology of FDB among hominids. In this comparative anatomical study, the feet of eight humans, three chimpanzees, and three orangutans were analysed. In humans, the FDB typically originates from the calcaneal tuberosity and plantar aponeurosis and is innervated by the medial plantar nerve (MPN). However, in one case, dual innervation from both the medial and lateral plantar nerves (LPNs) was observed. The accessory muscle belly from the flexor digitorum longus tendon, found in four human cases, was inserted variably into digits IV and/or V, similar to the FDB tendon, and was innervated by the MPN in all cases. In chimpanzees, the FDB originates from two sites, the calcaneus and flexor digitorum tibialis (FDT) tendon, both innervated by the MPN in all cases. In one orangutan specimen, the FDB was divided into two bellies originating from the calcaneus: one inserted into digit II and was innervated by the MPN, while the other merged with the flexor digitorum fibularis tendon to digit III and received dual innervation from both the medial and LPNs. In another orangutan case, the FDB originated from the calcaneus as a single muscle inserted into digits II-IV and was innervated by the MPN, with the accessory belly from the FDT tendon innervated by the LPN. The third orangutan case showed a single FDB into digits II-IV innervated by the MPN and dual innervation of the muscle belly originating from the FDT tendon via the medial and LPNs. These findings suggest that the dual-origin sites and innervation of the FDB, which was previously considered a variation in humans, may be a common morphological feature shared by hominids. The combination of dual-origin sites and innervation accounts for the greater diversity of the muscle compared with those with a single origin site or innervation. The characteristics in humans may be consistent with the morphological alterations of the foot, which are adaptations to habitual bipedal locomotion, such as a robust and posteroinferiorly elongated calcaneal tuberosity and a medial shift of the functional foot axis.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13584171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148990145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative anatomy of chicken and human forelimb muscles: Implications for human congenital conditions through developmental models.","authors":"Julia Dong Hwa Oh, Megan G Davey, Melina Eleni Bell, Meera Arun Singhal, Wee Leon Lam","doi":"10.1111/joa.70228","DOIUrl":"10.1111/joa.70228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The chicken embryo is a well-established model for studying the fundamental principles of limb development and has been instrumental in investigating human limb conditions such as polydactyly and the effects of thalidomide. Chicken embryos are accessible, low cost, and can be manipulated both in ovo and in culture. Recent innovations in the genetic modification of chickens, including making transgenic reporter and targeted deletions, have transformed the potential use of the chicken embryo in developmental biology research. Specifically, there is now the potential to model human congenital limb conditions in chicken limbs to better facilitate surgical management of soft-tissue manipulation, particularly muscles, to correct force imbalances and restore functionality. Looking towards this new era of discovery research, we have used data from available literature combined with our own data and observations to determine homologies of human and chicken muscles. Although muscle homology is relatively well conserved across amniotes, there has been no direct comparison of chicken limb muscles with human limb muscles, preventing a direct translation of soft-tissue changes in chicken models of limb conditions to humans. From this study, we conclude that stylopod and zeugopod muscles are well conserved and are mostly homologous between chickens and humans. We also highlight species variations which are not yet described in literature. Finally, we offer examples of how our comparative data can be used to comment on previously elusive muscular changes in certain congenital conditions, such as radial dysplasia, for which surgical management remains challenging.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13578667/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148976882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trigeminal and facial branchiomotor neurons have shared muscle targets in zebrafish larvae.","authors":"Ritika Ghosal, Kimberly L McArthur, Johann K Eberhart","doi":"10.1111/joa.70243","DOIUrl":"10.1111/joa.70243","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The trigeminal and facial branchiomotor neurons are believed to have unique sets of peripheral muscle targets in the first and second branchial arches, respectively. However, their innervation patterns in zebrafish have only been precisely mapped up to 48 h postfertilization (hpf). In this study, we dissected the final peripheral destinations of the trigeminal and facial motor nerves in the ventral branchial musculature of first-feeding zebrafish larvae. Using a combination of transgenic lines, we found that around 56 hpf, the facial nerve elongates anteriorly to reach the intermandibularis group of muscles, which are classically defined to be innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Intriguingly, the facial nerve could project onto these muscles ipsilaterally and contralaterally. Furthermore, the trigeminal nerve also elongates posteriorly into the hyoid arch territory around 53 hpf to reach the interhyoideus muscles. Targeted ablation of facial neurons revealed that the trigeminal nerve extends further posteriorly to reach the hyohyoideus inferior muscles between 3 and 4 days post fertilization. Strikingly, both these hyoid arch muscles formed neuromuscular junctions even in the absence of facial motor neurons, signifying functional relevance of their trigeminal innervation. Overall, we show that all ventral branchial muscles, except the hyohyoideus superior, receive dual innervation, while the hyohyoideus superior muscle is solely innervated by the facial nerve. We propose that this conjoint innervation of the anteroventral branchial muscles might be essential for their coordinated functional role in respiration or feeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":14971,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575351/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148968884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}