Is the plantaris muscle the most undefined human skeletal muscle?
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CASE REPORT
Is the plantaris muscle the most undefined human skeletal muscle? K. Kurtys1 · B. Gonera1 · Ł. Olewnik1 · P. Karauda1 · R. Shane Tubbs3,4,5 · M. Polguj2 Received: 26 June 2020 / Accepted: 26 October 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The plantaris muscle is located in the posterior aspect of the superficial compartment of the lower leg, running from the lateral condyle of the femur to the calcaneal tuberosity. Classically, it is characterized by a small and fusiform muscle belly, which then changes into a long slender tendon. From the evolutionary point of view, the muscle is considered vestigial. However, it has recently been suspected of being a highly specialized sensory muscle because of its high density of muscle spindles. It has a noticeable tendency to vary in respect of both origin and insertion. Researchers have published many reports on the potential clinical significance of the muscle belly and tendon, including mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy, ‘tennis leg syndrome’, and popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. The right knee joint area was subjected to classical anatomical dissection, during which an atypical plantaris muscle was found and examined in detail. Accurate morphometric measurements were made. The muscle belly was assessed as bifurcated. Morphologically, superior and inferior parts were presented. There was a tendinous connection (named band A) with the iliotibial tract and an additional insertion (named band B) to the semimembranosus tendon. Both bands A and B presented very broad fan-shaped attachments. The human plantaris muscle is of considerable interest and has frequent morphological variations in its proximal part. Its specific characteristics can cause clinical problems and lead to confusion in diagnosis. More studies are needed to define its actual features and functions. Keywords Case report · Knee · Knee joint · Plantaris muscle · Plantaris muscle origin
Introduction The plantaris muscle (PM) belongs to the posterior superficial compartment of the lower leg. It has origin in the posterior aspect of the knee joint. Normally, its single, small and fusiform muscle belly originates on the lateral supracondylar line of the femur, superior and medial to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and to the knee joint capsule. It * K. Kurtys [email protected] 1
Department of Anatomical Dissection and Donation, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90‑136 Łódź, Poland
2
Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego 7/9, Łódź 90‑136, Poland
3
Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
4
Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA
5
Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada
develops into a long thin tendon descending along the lower leg into a space between the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle. Ultimately, the plantaris tendon reaches a distal attachment, t
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