IJCRR - 5(1), January, 2013
Pages: 86-89
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STUDY OF THE VARIANT SOLEUS MUSCLE
Author: Sharadkumar Pralhad Sawant, Shaguphta T. Shaikh, S. D. Lele, Shaheen Rizvi, S.R.Menon, R. Uma
Category: Healthcare
Abstract:Aim: To study the variant soleus muscle. Materials and Methods: 50 lower limbs of 25 donated embalmed cadavers (15 males and 10 females) of age group ranging from 70 to 80 years were studied in the department of Anatomy at K. J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, INDIA. The right lower limb of one male cadaver showed the three separate heads of soleus muscle. All the lower limbs were thoroughly and meticulously dissected to note the variation of the soleus muscle. The arterial pattern in the leg was also observed. The photographs of the variation of the soleus muscle were taken for proper documentation. Observations: Out of 100 specimens the variations in the soleus muscle was found in one specimen. The right lower limb of a female cadaver showed three separate heads of soleus muscle. The tibial head from soleal line present on the posterior surface of the tibia, the fibular head from the back of the head of the fibula and the intermediate head from the tendinous arch placed between the tibial and the fibular origins of the muscle. The three heads of soleus muscle along with the medial and the lateral heads of gastrocnemius formed the tendo calcaneus which got inserted into the middle part of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone. There was no associated arterial variation seen in the specimen. The variation was unilateral and the left lower limb of the same cadaver was normal. Conclusion: The existence of such variation of the soleus muscle should be kept in mind by the surgeons, the orthopaedicians, the radiologists and also by the physiotherapists. The three heads of soleus may prove significant and lead to confusion during surgical procedures. A lack of awareness such variations might complicate surgical repair.
Keywords: Soleus Muscle, Three Heads, Surgeons, Orthopaedicians, Radiologists, Physiotherapists.
Full Text:
INTRODUCTION
The soleus is a broad flat muscle situated immediately in front of the gastrocnemius. It arises by tendinous fibers from the back of the head of the fibula, and from the upper third of the posterior surface of the body of the bone; from the popliteal line, and the middle third of the medial border of the tibia; some fibers also arise from a tendinous arch placed between the tibial and fibular origins of the muscle, in front of which the popliteal vessels and tibial nerve run. The fibers end in an aponeurosis which covers the posterior surface of the muscle, and, gradually becoming thicker and narrower, joins with the tendon of the gastrocnemius, and forms with it the tendo calcaneus (1). Accessory head to its lower and inner part usually ending in the tendocalcaneus, or the calcaneus, or the laciniate ligament (2). The gastrocnemius and soleus together form a muscular mass which is occasionally described as the Triceps surae; its tendon of insertion is the tendo calcaneus (Tendo Achillis), the common tendon of the gastrocnemius and soleus, is the thickest and strongest in the body. It is about 15 cm. long, and begins near the middle of the leg, but receives fleshy fibers on its anterior surface, almost to its lower end. Gradually becoming contracted below, it is inserted into the middle part of the posterior surface of the calcaneus, a bursa being interposed between the tendon and the upper part of this surface. The tendon spreads out somewhat at its lower end, so that its narrowest part is about 4 cm. above its insertion. It is covered by the fascia and the integument, and is separated from the deep muscles and vessels by a considerable interval filled up with areolar and adipose tissue. Along its lateral side, but superficial to it, is the small saphenous vein (4).
MATERIALS AND METHODS 50 lower limbs of 25 donated embalmed cadavers (15 males and 10 females) of age group ranging from 70 to 80 years were studied in the department of Anatomy at K. J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, INDIA. The right lower limb of one male cadaver showed the three separate heads of soleus muscle. All the lower limbs were thoroughly and meticulously dissected to note the variation of the soleus muscle. The arterial pattern in the leg was also observed. The photographs of the variation of the soleus muscle were taken for proper documentation.
OBSERVATIONS Out of 100 specimens the variations in the soleus muscle was found in one specimen. The right lower limb of a female cadaver showed three separate heads of soleus muscle. The tibial head from soleal line present on the posterior surface of the tibia, the fibular head from the back of the head of the fibula and the intermediate head from the tendinous arch placed between the tibial and the fibular origins of the muscle. The three heads of soleus muscle along with the medial and the lateral heads of gastrocnemius formed the tendo calcaneus which got inserted into the middle part of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone. There was no associated arterial variation seen in the specimen. The variation was unilateral and the left lower limb of the same cadaver was normal.
Figure showing the photographic presentation of the right lower limb of a male cadaver showed three separate heads of soleus muscle. All the three heads of soleus are supplied by the tibial nerve.
DISCUSSION The accessory soleus muscle was first described in literature by Fue Cruvelhier in 1834. The variant soleus muscle is present in 0.7 to 5.5% of the population (5). It is a rare anatomical variation that can present as a soft tissue tumor in this region. A congenital muscle anomaly is more frequent in the upper limbs and is rarely seen in the lower limbs. During embryogenesis the soleous muscle separates into two parts, and this supernumerary muscle has its own blood supply and innervations (6, 7). This supernumerary muscle is located under the gastrocnemius muscle, in the posterior upper third of the fibula, in the oblique soleus line, between the fibular head and the posterior part of the tibia. From its origin, the accessory soleus muscle runs anteriorly and medially until it reaches the Achilles tendon.
Five accessory soleus muscle types were described based on their insertion characteristics, including the Achilles tendon, the muscle insertion in the upper calcaneus region, the tendon insertion in the upper calcaneus, the muscle insertion in the medial calcaneus region, and finally the tendon insertion in the medial part of the calcaneus (5). The accessory soleus muscle is usually observed during the second or third decade of life and more often in males at 2:1 ratio (8, 9, 10). This is a rare condition and its general prevalence has not been established yet (11). Statistical analysis shows that accessory soleus muscle is more frequently a unilateral finding (12). In the present case the variation in the soleus muscle was unilateral and the right lower limb of the same cadaver was normal. The reports in the literature stated a 0.7 to 5.5% presence of accessory soleus muscle in human beings (13, 14, 15, 16). Some investigators reported a prevalence ranging from 1 to 6% in human beings (17). Sometimes it is very difficult to identify the origin and insertion of the accessory soleus muscle on the MRI study (18, 19, 20). The variations in the soleus muscle were common in males (21). In the present case the variation was observed in male specimen. Thus our finding coincides with the literature.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The knowledge of any variation in the soleus muscle is clinically important because the soleus muscle is called as peripheral heart. The presence of variant soleus muscle may appear as a soft tissue tumor on MRI study in this region.
CONCLUSION The existence of such variation of the soleus muscle should be kept in mind by the surgeons, the orthopaedicians, the radiologists and also by the physiotherapists. The three heads of soleus may prove significant and lead to confusion during surgical procedures. A lack of awareness such variations might complicate surgical repair.
COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
AUTHORS' CONTRIBUTIONS SPS wrote the case report, performed the literature review and obtained the photograph for the study. SDL, UR performed the literature search, SR assisted with writing the paper. STS conceived the study and SRM helped to draft the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version manuscript.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT All the authors are thankful to Dr. Arif A. Faruqui for his support. We are also thankful to Mr. M. Murugan for his help. Authors also acknowledge the immense help received from the scholars whose articles are cited and included in references of this manuscript. The authors are also grateful to authors / editors / publishers of all those articles, journals and books from where the literature for this article has been reviewed and discussed.
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