IJCRR - 8(17), September, 2016
Pages: 01-03
Date of Publication: 11-Sep-2016
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A CADAVERIC STUDY OF BICEPS BRACHII MUSCLE- CLINICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY CORRELATIONS
Author: Patel Dinesh K., Shinde Amol A., Bharambe Vaishaly K.
Category: Healthcare
Abstract:Introduction: Knowledge of anatomical variations of the muscles is required during diagnosis with various imaging techniques. Literature mentions variations of additional heads of biceps brachii muscles.
Aim: To find incidence and variations of additional heads of biceps brachii muscle. Methodology \? Meticulous dissection of 50 limbs for variation of origin, insertion and heads of biceps brachii muscle.
Results: We found 5 (10%) limbs showing accessory head of biceps. Bilateral variation was seen in one cadaver. One cadaver showed additional head taking origin from deltoid.
Conclusion: Role of evolution can be the cause of additional heads. Knowledge of the variations in the morphology of biceps brachii muscles is of immense importance in preoperative diagnosis and planned surgeries
Non-surgical treatment plays an important role in the treatment of primary liver cancer, which includes transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, percutaneous ablation therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc
Keywords: Biceps brachi, Accessory head of biceps brachii, Additional head of biceps brachii, Supernumerary head of biceps brachii
Full Text:
INTRODUCTION
The biceps brachii muscle is described as arising by a long head originating from supraglenoid tubercle and a short head from the coracoid process. Both heads unite in the upper arm and insert through a common tendon into the bicipital tuberosity of the radius, with an aponeurosis (lacertus fibrosus) . The biceps brachii muscle is one of the most variable in the human body in terms of morphology and number of heads.1 Extra head of biceps may help in strong supination. Knowledge of anatomical variations is important during diagnosis using various imaging techniques. Variations like extra head of biceps have been documented in literature. Additional head, accessory head, third head, supernumerary head are terms used for the extra head of biceps brachii.
Observations Methodology
Meticulous dissection of 50 upper limbs of cadavers fixed in 10% formalin was done. All upper limbs were observed for variations of origin, insertion and number of heads of biceps brachii muscle. Results – Accessory head of biceps was seen in 5 limbs (10%). 4 bodies showed accessory head on right side. One body showed bilateral variation.4 additional heads had humeral origin (fig 1,2) while one was taking origin from deltoid.(fig3) Musculocutaneous nerve was supplying the additional heads of biceps. No other variation was observed.
DISCUSSION
In Gray's Anatomy – The anatomical basis of clinical practice, David Johnson describes biceps brachii as having two proximally attached parts or heads. Short head arising as a thick flattened tendon from coracoids process of scapula and long head as a long narrow tendon from supraglenoid tubercle of scapula. He gives a 10% incidence of third head of biceps brachii muscle arising from superomedial part of brachialis. Additional head may also arise from lateral aspect of humerus and intertubercular sulcus. Musculocutaneous nerve (C5,6) innervates biceps brachii with separate branch for each head.2 In a MR Arthrography guided study Gheno et al1 mentioned a 20% incidence of accessory head of biceps brachii muscle. In conclusion they state that anomalous muscles are one of the more frequent anatomic variations around the shoulder. Familiarity with these structures is important not only because of the clinical symptoms that they can cause by compressing the adjacent neurovascular bundles but also for correct identification at the time of imaging or surgery. Pakhale et al3 gave evolutionary importance of biceps brachii. Lemures have a single headed biceps, apes and humans have muscle with two heads while gibbons have more than two heads for biceps brachii. They state a 3.75 % incidence of accessory head of biceps brachii. This incidence rate (3.75%) is less than our study (10%).Neurovascular compression is a possibility with this variation due to close proximity with additional head. Avadhani et al4 say that accessory heads of biceps will be significant in producing strong flexion and supination. They give 16.66 % incidence of third head of biceps which is more than our study (10%) Close relationship of medial nerve and brachial artery with biceps brachii may lead to compression in case with additional heads. In a study of biceps brachii in African population R.Ashwat et al5 report the incidence of third head as 20.5% in African black and 8.3% in African white population. They state presence of a additional head will help in stronger supination and flexion. Bharambe et al6 give a 13.3% incidence of third head and state that variations of biceps brachii are a reflection of its late development in human phylum. Accessory heads can cause neurovascular compression, change the kinematics at the elbow joint and misinterpretation as muscle tears on MRI. Author classified the extra heads of biceps brachii as capsular, humeral or brachial heads. Kumar H et al7 reported 3.3% incidence of third head of biceps brachii muscle which is less than reported in our study (10%). All cases showed third head having Humeral origin while our study showed 80% humeral origin for third head. Balasbramanian8 mentions that with evolution humans have lost the long head of coracobrachialis. The third head of biceps brachii which arises in continuity with the insertion of coracobrachialis may represent a remnant of long head of coracobrachialis the ancestral hominoid condition. Embryological studies described the variation as a portion of brachialis muscle where its distal insertion has been translocated from ulna to the radius. In population who show continuous, moderate physical activity the accessory head can be a specific functional adaptation. Paudel PP and Bhattarai C9 in a study of Nepalese population found 12.5 % incidence of accessory head of biceps brachii. They state 100 % incidence of humearal heads exclusively in right hand. Rodriguez et al10 gave a 15.4% incidence of accessory head of biceps brachii. Unilateral variation was seen in 81% cases.70 % variations were seen on right side. Cheema and Singla gave a very low incidence (2.3%) of additional head of biceps brachii in North Indian population. The variation was seen in left hands. Phylogenetically, additional head was explained as a remnant of a “tuberculoseptale” third head is present in hylobates but not in humans and anthropoids. Also considered a remnant of the long head of the coracobrachialis, an ancestral hominoid.Humeral head of biceps will contribute to strong pronation of forearm.11
CONCLUSION
Additional head of Biceps has been documented by various researchers. Extra head should help in strong flexion and supination actions. A humeral head will also contribute to pronation. Evolutionary role of long head of coracobracialis and part of bracialis shifting it’s insertion to radius can be the cause for additional head of biceps brachii. Compression of neurovascular bundle by the additional head should be considered. Knowledge of this variation is beneficial during preoperative diagnosis for planned elbow and shoulder surgeries.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Authors 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 the authors/editors/ publishers of all those articles, journals and books from where the literature for this article has been reviewed and discussed. Source of funding: As this study was carried out in the dissection hall of our Department, there was no separate financial aid provided for it. Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest
References:
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