Welcome to International Journal of Anatomy and Research

Type of Article: Original Research

Year: 2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 2 | Page No. 2196-2199

Date of Publication: 30-04-2016

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2016.175

ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS OF PLANTARIS MUSCLE: A CADAVERIC STUDY

Najma Mobin.

Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS University, Mysore, Karnataka, India.

Address: Dr. Najma Mobin, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, JSS University, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
E-Mail:drnajmamobin786@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background: The Plantaris muscle is a small vestigial muscle having a small muscle belly and a long tendon, it is sandwiched between the Soleus and Gastronecmeus muscles present in the calf. Plantaris muscle is an important structure anatomically, surgically and radiologically. It is being used in various reconstructive surgeries as an autograft and in valvular heart repair, it has more advantages over the synthetic grafts.The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of agenesis and to know the variations pertaining to its origin and insertion. 
Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, Mysore, Karnataka State, India. The Plantaris muscle was dissected in 30 adult embalmed cadavers (60 lower limbs), 10 females and 20 males, the average age of the cadavers was between 40-60 years. Variations pertaining to agenesis, aberrancy of its attachment in its origin and insertion, duplication and triplication, accessory slips were observed and noted.
Result: It was observed that in each specimen there were variations in the thickness and length of Plantaris muscle and tendon. Agenesis of Plantaris was observed bilaterally in a male cadaver, with the incidence of 3.33%.
Conclusion: The Plantaris muscle, which was once thought to be a vestigial and degenerating structure, can be of maximum use as a graft material in various plastic & reconstructive surgeries. After reviewing the literature it was noted that the Palmaris longus muscle has been well understood and discussed compared to the Plantaris muscle.
KEY WORDS: Agenesis, Autograft, Plantaris muscle.

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Najma Mobin. ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS OF PLANTARIS MUSCLE: A CADAVERIC STUDY. Int J Anat Res 2016;4(2):2196-2199. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2016.175