Facial musculature in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta): evolutionary and functional contexts with comparisons to chimpanzees and humans

Burrows, A.M., Waller, B.M. ORCID: 0000-0001-6303-7458 and Parr, L.A., 2009. Facial musculature in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta): evolutionary and functional contexts with comparisons to chimpanzees and humans. Journal of Anatomy, 215 (3), pp. 320-334. ISSN 0021-8782

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Abstract

Facial expression is a common mode of visual communication in mammals but especially so in primates. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) have a well‐documented facial expression repertoire that is controlled by the facial/mimetic musculature as in all mammals. However, little is known about the musculature itself and how it compares with those of other primates. Here we present a detailed description of the facial musculature in rhesus macaques in behavioral, evolutionary and comparative contexts. Formalin‐fixed faces from six adult male specimens were dissected using a novel technique. The morphology, attachments, three‐dimensional relationships and variability of muscles were noted and compared with chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and with humans. The results showed that there was a greater number of facial muscles in rhesus macaques than previously described (24 muscles), including variably present (and previously unmentioned) zygomaticus minor, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, depressor septi, anterior auricularis, inferior auricularis and depressor supercilii muscles. The facial muscles of the rhesus macaque were very similar to those in chimpanzees and humans but M. mulatta did not possess a risorius muscle. These results support previous studies that describe a highly graded and intricate facial expression repertoire in rhesus macaques. Furthermore, these results indicate that phylogenetic position is not the primary factor governing the structure of primate facial musculature and that other factors such as social behavior are probably more important. The results from the present study may provide valuable input to both biomedical studies that use rhesus macaques as a model for human disease and disorder that includes assessment of facial movement and studies into the evolution of primate societies and communication.

Item Type: Journal article
Publication Title: Journal of Anatomy
Creators: Burrows, A.M., Waller, B.M. and Parr, L.A.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: September 2009
Volume: 215
Number: 3
ISSN: 0021-8782
Identifiers:
NumberType
10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01113.xDOI
1384229Other
Rights: © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Divisions: Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by: Linda Sullivan
Date Added: 04 Nov 2020 13:52
Last Modified: 31 May 2021 15:14
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/41491

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