Morphogenesis of the human gluteus maximus muscle arising from two muscle primordia

Abstract

In human embryos and fetuses a supernumerary muscle was found situated on the distal margin of the gluteus maximus muscle and supplied by the most distal main branch of the inferior gluteus nerve. According to its origin and insertion it is being named the coccygeofemoralis muscle. In embryos and fetuses of up to 40 mm in CR length the coccygeofemoralis muscle is separated by loose connective tissue from neighbouring fetal muscles. Later on, close contact between the coccygeofemoralis and the distal margin of the fetal gluteus maximus muscle develops, and during the prenatal period both fetal muscles gradually fuse. Postnatally, the coccygeofemoralis muscle is incorporated into the gluteus maximus muscle of which the pars sacroiliaca corresponds to the fetal gluteus maximus itself and the pars coccygea represents the fetal coccygeofemoralis muscle. With respect to the general process of muscle morphogenesis, the developmental pattern described for the gluteus maximus muscle demonstrates that adult muscles may be formed by a fusion of several fetal muscles.