Gantzer muscle. An anatomical study.

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Neuroanatomy
• Surgical Anatomy

Background:

• The anatomical relationship of the Gantzer muscle to the median and anterior interosseous nerves is not well-established.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for diagnosing and treating nerve compression syndromes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence, origin, insertion, nerve supply, and anatomical relations of the Gantzer muscle.
• To determine if the Gantzer muscle is a common anatomical variant or a normal pattern.

Main Methods:

• Anatomical dissection of 80 upper limbs from 40 human cadavers.
• Documentation of the Gantzer muscle's presence, origin, insertion, nerve supply, and spatial relationship to nerves.

Main Results:

• The Gantzer muscle was identified in 68% of the studied forearms.
• It originated from the flexor digitorum superficialis, coronoid process, or medial epicondyle.
• The muscle consistently lay posterior to both the median and anterior interosseous nerves and was supplied by the anterior interosseous nerve.

Conclusions:

• The Gantzer muscle is a common anatomical finding in 68% of individuals.
• Its anatomical position suggests a potential role in median and anterior interosseous nerve compression.
• It should be considered a normal anatomical variant rather than an anomaly.