Anatomical study of the cloacae muscles in the male ostrich (Struthio camelus, camelus linn)

In this investigation striated cloacae muscles in 14 cloacae (intact and incised) of male ostriches were studied.Cloacae in the ostriches like the other birds is composed of coprodeum,urodeum and proctodeum.All these three compartments are surrounded by six striated muscles.These muscles are arranged in three layers;superficial,middle and deep layer.The superficial layer include the cloacal sphincter,the levator cloacae and the depressor cloacae muscles.The middle layer is composed of the constrictor cloacae and the transverse cloacae muscles.The deep layer is composed of only one muscle the dilator cloacae.There are two other muscles which can be considered as the cloacae muscles in the male ostrich.These are the levator phalli and the retractor phalli muscles which are associated with the phallus in the male ostrich.