A muscle that originates on the anterior iliac spine that passes through the inguinal canal before dividing into four branches, each attaching to a pouch nipple. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12432001 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6601-2165 ]
Term information
A muscle that originates on the anterior iliac spine that passes through the inguinal canal before dividing into four branches, each attaching to a pouch nipple.
In pouched marsupials, the ilio-marsupialis is less well developed, but may help in gland contraction to express milk during suckling (Griffiths & Slater, 1988) and it carries the genitofemoral nerve that innervates the mammary gland (Renfree, 1979) [DOI:10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00087.x]
in pouchless marsupials provides mechanical support for the attached young [DOI:10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00087.x]
Associated with lumbar musculature. originally postulated to be involved in milk ejection, or for mammary support and for retraction of the teats.
Term relations
- muscle organ
- mesoderm-derived structure
- composed primarily of some skeletal muscle tissue
- has muscle insertion some nipple
- has muscle origin some anterior iliac spine
- develops from some gubernaculum (female)
- has muscle insertion some marsupium
- only in taxon some Metatheria
- has developmental contribution from some gubernaculum (female)