Abstract
Recent studies suggest that muscle originates from somites and tendons from lateral plate mesoderm. This study explored the factors which normally determine the location and insertion of a muscle, a previously unanswered question. Human experiments of nature with early problems in morphogenesis were used to determine how muscle development proceeds when known critical developmental factors are varied. In a variety of monozygotic conjoined twins for whom there could be no genetic determinants for muscle attachments at the sites of juncture, these attachments must follow general principles of morphogenesis. A second type involves absence of bone that antedated muscle and tendon development (e.g. radial aplasia). A third category includes mechanical alteration of early limb position prior to development of muscle attachments (e.g. early amnion rupture sequence). The dissection findings from all 3 types strongly imply a general hierarchy of muscle tendon attachments. Tendons appear to attach preferentially to bone. If the bone they would normally attach to is absent, they will attach to the next closest bone. If no such bone is available, they will attach to tendons, and if no tendon is available, occasionally they will attach to the aponeurosis of another muscle. If there is no connective tissue attachment site, there will be no muscle, implying a need for function in the development and preservation of muscle.
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Graham, J., Stephens, T., Siebert, J. et al. 1204 DETERMINANTS IN THE MORPHOGENESIS OF MUSCLE TENDON INSERTIONS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 643 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01230
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01230