An exceptionally high density of muscle spindles in a slow-tonic pigeon muscle

Abstract

Histochemical and histological observations on the tiny wing muscle, M. coracotriceps, of the pigeon revealed a remarkably high density of muscle spindles (14,582 +/- 2,302/g of muscle)--approximately 15 times the highest densities hitherto reported for any muscle. Furthermore, all of the extrafusal fibers of this muscle were of the slow-tonic variety. This unique muscle probably functions as a mechanoreceptor extremely sensitive to changes in its own length.