Never undescribed before, four-headed plantaris muscle

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Morphology

Background:

• The plantaris muscle is a small muscle in the superficial posterior compartment of the leg.
• It typically originates from the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and knee joint capsule, with a distal tendon attached to the calcaneal tuberosity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and describe a rare morphological variation of the plantaris muscle.
• To highlight the clinical significance of anatomical variations in surgical procedures and potential neurovascular compressions.

Main Methods:

• Standard anatomical dissection was performed.
• A detailed examination of the origin, course, and insertion of the plantaris muscle was conducted.

Main Results:

• A four-headed plantaris muscle was identified during dissection.
• All four heads merged into a single muscle belly before forming a tendinous structure, consistent with a standard plantaris tendon insertion.
• The heads originated from the popliteal surface of the femur, distal Kaplan fibers, and the lateral femoral epicondyle.

Conclusions:

• Morphological variations of the plantaris muscle, such as the four-headed form, can occur.
• Awareness of these anatomical variations is essential for clinicians to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure successful surgical interventions.