Functionally macroscopic and microscopic investigation of muscles affecting on wrist (articulatio tarsi) and finger joints (articulationes digiti pedis) of hind limb of quail (coturnix coturnix) and pigeon (columba livia)

In this study, the muscles affecting the foot and finger joints in pigeon and quail were examined macroscopically and microscopically. A total of 40 poultry, including 20 adult quails (C. Coturnix) (10 males 10 females) and 20 adult pigeons (C. Livia) (10 males 10 females), were used for macroscopic examination. Animals were anesthetized by inhalation with diethyl ether. Live weights were determined with precision scales. Separate radiographic images were taken of the left feet of the anesthetized poultry. Separate PBN measurements were performed from the images taken with the Image J program. Then, they were euthanized by cervical dislocation under diethyl ether anesthesia. After the right and left legs of the euthanized animals were separated from the body, their left legs were fixed in 30% formaldehyde solution for dissection, while their right legs were fixed in 10% nötral formaldehyde solution for histological procedures. The hind leg muscles of both animals were simultaneously dissected and examined macroscopically. Morphometric measurements of bone (whole leg, femur, TBT, TMT and digit bones) lengths were made in accordance with the measurement points specified by von den Driesch (1976). Routine histological examination was performed after fixation and stained according to Crossman's triple staining technique. The presence of SO-type I, FG-type IIb and FOG-type IIa in 4-5 μ sections taken from paraffin blocks was demonstrated using the indirect streptavidin-biotin-complex method from immunohistochemical methods. As a result of our study, it was evaluated statistically as P<0.05 and P<0.01. The length of the hallux, the articulation point to the TMT and the fiber arrangements in the two flexor group muscles showed that the hind legs of the pigeons had a more favorable anatomical and histological structure for the perching movement.