Structure and innervation of the third axillary muscle of Manduca relative to its role in turning flight

Abstract

The morphology, ultrastructure, innervation and physiology of the third axillary muscle in Manduca sexta were examined to investigate the role of this muscle in flight. The muscle consists of three parts: the upper bundle, which originates on the episternum, and the middle and lower bundles, which originate on the epimeron; all three parts insert on the tip of a projection from the third axillary sclerite. The middle bundle is composed of tonic fibres, and is innervated by a single slow axon, while the other two bundles consist of intermediate fibres and are each innervated by a single fast axon. The shape and position of the third axillary sclerite within the wing hinge are such that its primary function appears to be remotion of the wing. The length of the third axillary muscle determines the amount of remotion, independency of the degree of elevation or depression of the wing and independently of the amount of remotion of the contralateral wing. Electrophysiological recordings from the three parts of the muscle during tethered flight indicate that they may each function independently of each other and in different ways. The tonic (middle) bundle is capable of maintaining tension to hold the wings in the folded position at rest and is active when the wings are folded at the end of flight. The intermediate (upper and lower) bundles are activated phasically with impulses that may occur with various relationships to the timing of activation of a direct depressor, the subalar, or of several of the elevators. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the third axillary muscles on both sides are important in determining the asymmetric degrees of remotion observed in turning flight.