Incidence of palamris longus muscle and tendon variations: a cadaveric study

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Original Article

Author Details : Pabbati Raji Reddy

Volume : 3, Issue : 4, Year : 2016

Article Page : 547-551

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Abstract

Introduction: Palmaris longus muscle is one of the most variable muscles of the human body. Complete agenesis, variation in the location and form of the fleshy portion, aberrancy in attachment, duplication or triplication, accessory tendinous slips, replacing elements are some of the variations commonly encountered. Due to the large variability of the Palmaris longus muscle, we had undertaken this study to estimate the prevalence of this variation in our geographical area.
Materials and Methods: A total of 32 cadavers, i.e. 64 upper limbs were dissected for the assessment of Palmaris longus muscle. The length and the circumference of the muscle belly of the Palmaris longus muscle, was noted. The most distal point on the muscle tendon to the point where the tendon crosses the line joining the pisiform bone and the tubercle of the scaphoid bone was measured to assess the length of the muscle. The width of the tendon was measured based on the aponeurosis. Finally, the length of the forearm was measured from the tip of the olecranon process to the styloid process of the ulna.
Results: Out of the 32 cadavers, 23 were males with a total of 46 upper limbs which were used for discussion, 9 were females with 18 upper limbs. The mean length of the muscle in males was 124mm while in females, it was only 86.2mm. There was not much difference in the length and width of the tendon in both the sexes. 4.3% of males and 5.5% of the females had Palmaris longus muscle agenesis. Other deformities were high aponeurosis, slender long Palmaris longus tendon, digastric palmaris longus muscle with a single tendon, fusion of palmaris longus muscle belly with the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle with one case each.
Conclusion: The Palmaris longus muscle is quite prevalent among the population in our area, as observed by the dissection of the cadavers. As Palmaris muscle and the tendon is normally used for tendon replacement, a proper understanding of the variations in the muscle is important.

Keywords: Palmaris longus muscle, Tendon, Deformity, Cadavers

How to cite : Reddy P R, Incidence of palamris longus muscle and tendon variations: a cadaveric study. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2016;3(4):547-551

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