Anatomy and Cell Biology

Korean Association of Anatomists (대한해부학회)
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Anatomical variation of quadratus plantae in relation with flexor digitorum brevis

  • Received : 2023.04.17
  • Accepted : 2023.06.20
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

The muscles of the sole have been traditionally categorized into four layers, but it is more practical to divide them into peripheral and central groups. The peripheral groups include medial and lateral groups. The central plantar muscles are more numerous and divided into superficial and deep layers. During routine dissection in the Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bibinagar, Hyderabad, variations are been observed in the plantar intrinsic muscle in the left foot & right foot of a 53-year-old male cadaver. This is the first cadaveric report of a combination of discrepancies especially the inter-tendinous connection between quadratus plantae and flexor digitorum brevis. Similar observations in the literature were not found by us. It is important to identify and study these dissimilarities of muscles of the sole for surgeons, anatomists, radiologists and orthopaedics as these muscles and tendons are used in foot reconstructive procedures, and for the treatment of some congenital anomalies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We would like to express our gratitude to the cadaver's relatives for donating their relative's body for education and research. Also we would like to acknowledge the efforts of anatomy laboratory attenders for regular maintenance of cadavers and the laboratory.

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