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Development of craniofacial musculature in Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia, Didelphidae).

Publication ,  Journal Article
Smith, KK
Published in: Journal of morphology
November 1994

Development of craniofacial muscles of Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia, Didelphidae) is described. In a period of 4-6 days all craniofacial muscles in M. domestica progress from myoblast condensation, to striated myofibers that are aligned in the direction of adult muscles and possess multiple, lateral nuclei. This process begins 1 to 2 days before birth and continues during the first few days after birth. Compared to other aspects of cranial development, muscle development in M. domestica is rapid. This rapid and more or less simultaneous emergence of craniofacial muscles differs from the previously described pattern of development of the cranial skeleton in marsupials, which displays a mosaic of acceleration and deceleration of regions and individual elements. Unlike the skeletal system, craniofacial muscles show no evidence of regional specialization during development. M. domestica resembles eutherian mammals in the relatively rapid and more or less simultaneous differentiation of all craniofacial muscles. It differs from eutherian taxa in that most stages of myogenesis occur postnatally, following the onset of function. The timing of the development of muscular and skeletal structures is compared and it is concluded that the relatively early development of muscle is not reflected by any particular acceleration of the differentiation or growth of skeletal structures. Finally, the difficulties in accounting for complex internal arrangements of muscles such as the tongue, given current models of myogenesis are summarized.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of morphology

DOI

EISSN

1097-4687

ISSN

0362-2525

Publication Date

November 1994

Volume

222

Issue

2

Start / End Page

149 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Skull
  • Radiography
  • Muscle Development
  • Marsupialia
  • Facial Muscles
  • Animals
  • Anatomy & Morphology
  • Aging
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Smith, K. K. (1994). Development of craniofacial musculature in Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia, Didelphidae). Journal of Morphology, 222(2), 149–173. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1052220204
Smith, K. K. “Development of craniofacial musculature in Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia, Didelphidae).Journal of Morphology 222, no. 2 (November 1994): 149–73. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1052220204.
Smith, K. K. “Development of craniofacial musculature in Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia, Didelphidae).Journal of Morphology, vol. 222, no. 2, Nov. 1994, pp. 149–73. Epmc, doi:10.1002/jmor.1052220204.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of morphology

DOI

EISSN

1097-4687

ISSN

0362-2525

Publication Date

November 1994

Volume

222

Issue

2

Start / End Page

149 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Skull
  • Radiography
  • Muscle Development
  • Marsupialia
  • Facial Muscles
  • Animals
  • Anatomy & Morphology
  • Aging
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology