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

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.

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