Intramuscular nerve distribution pattern of the oblique and transverse heads of the adductor hallucis muscles in the human foot

To understand which layer of the intrinsic muscles of the foot the adductor hallucis muscle belongs to, it is essential to investigate the innervation patterns of this muscle. In the present study, we examined the innervation patterns of the adductor hallucis muscles in 17 feet of 15 Japanese cadavers. We investigated the intramuscular nerve supplies of the adductor hallucis muscles in six feet and performed nerve fiber analysis in three feet. The results indicate that: (i) the oblique head of the adductor hallucis muscle is divided into three compartments (i.e. lateral, dorsal and medial parts) or two compartments (i.e. dorsal and medial parts) based on its intramuscular nerve supplies, but we could not classify the transverse head into any parts; (ii) the communicating twig between the lateral and medial plantar nerves penetrated the oblique head of the adductor hallucis muscle in 13 of 17 feet (76.5%); (iii) the penetrating twig entered between the lateral and dorsal parts of the oblique head, passed between the lateral and medial parts of this muscle and then connected with the medial plantar nerve; and (iv) the majority of the nerve fibers of the penetrating twig derived from the lateral plantar nerve. The present study demonstrated that only the lateral part of the oblique head of the adductor hallucis muscle had a unique innervating pattern different from other parts of this muscle, suggesting that the lateral part of the oblique head has a different origin from other parts of this muscle.     

Lateromedial and dorsoplantar borders among supplying areas of the nerves innervating the intrinsic muscles of the foot.

The branching patterns of nerves supplying the intrinsic muscles of the foot were analyzed as a basis to confirm the muscle layer structure. Thirty-eight feet of 20 Japanese cadavers were examined in detail in this study. The first dorsal interosseus was innervated by a branch from the deep peroneal nerve as well as a branch of the lateral plantar nerve in 92.1%, the second dorsal interosseus in 10. 5% and the third dorsal interosseus in 2.6%. In three specimens, branches from the deep peroneal nerve innervated the oblique head of the adductor hallucis or the lateral head the flexor hallucis brevis. In addition, branches from the medial and lateral plantar nerves and the deep peroneal nerve formed communication loops in three specimens. The first dorsal interosseus, the oblique head of the adductor hallucis and the lateral head of the flexor hallucis and their innervating nerve branches are closely related within the first intermetatarsal space. Since the tibial part of the first interosseus muscle primordium is occupied in the space during development, the variations of innervation patterns and formation of the communicating nerve loops may be explained by various combinations of the part and the other muscle primordia.     

Lateromedial and dorsoplantar borders among supplying areas of the nerves innervating the intrinsic muscles of the foot

The branching patterns of nerves supplying the intrinsic muscles of the foot were analyzed as a basis to confirm the muscle layer structure. Thirty‐eight feet of 20 Japanese cadavers were examined in detail in this study. The first dorsal interosseus was innervated by a branch from the deep peroneal nerve as well as a branch of the lateral plantar nerve in 92.1%, the second dorsal interosseus in 10.5% and the third dorsal interosseus in 2.6%. In three specimens, branches from the deep peroneal nerve innervated the oblique head of the adductor hallucis or the lateral head the flexor hallucis brevis. In addition, branches from the medial and lateral plantar nerves and the deep peroneal nerve formed communication loops in three specimens. The first dorsal interosseus, the oblique head of the adductor hallucis and the lateral head of the flexor hallucis and their innervating nerve branches are closely related within the first intermetatarsal space. Since the tibial part of the first interosseus muscle primordium is occupied in the space during development, the variations of innervation patterns and formation of the communicating nerve loops may be explained by various combinations of the part and the other muscle primordia. Anat Rec 255:465–470, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

足底内侧和外侧群肌的肌内神经整体分布模式及临床意义

目的 揭示足底内侧和外侧群肌的肌内神经整体分布模式,探讨其临床意义.方法 24具成年尸体,完整取下足底内侧和外侧群肌,采用改良Sihler染色显示肌内神经分布模式.结果 (足母)收肌的神经支从肌止端的深面入肌,而(足母)展肌、(足母)短屈肌、小趾展肌和小趾短屈肌的神经支常从肌起端的深面入肌.(足母)展肌中有1个半月形和...     

Anatomical study of human adductor hallucis muscle with respect to its origin and insertion

The adductor hallucis muscle (ADH) is evolutionally and functionally important, but no detailed morphological data about this muscle in the human body is available. In the present study, we examined the origin and insertion of the oblique and transverse heads of the ADH. Forty-five feet (20 right, 25 left) of 34 cadavers (13 men, 21 women, average age of 80 years old) were used in the present study. The origin, insertion and nerve supplies of the oblique and transverse heads of the ADH were macroscopically examined in detail. Most commonly, the oblique head of the ADH arose from the bases of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones, the plantar metatarsal ligaments spanned between the bases of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones, the lateral cuneiform bone, the fibrous sheath of the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle and the long plantar ligament, and inserted into the lateral sesamoid bone of the great toe and the capsule of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint. Most commonly, the transverse head of the ADH originated from the capsules of the 3rd and 4th (and occasionally 5th) metatarsophalangeal joint and the deep transverse metatarsal ligaments, and inserted into the lateral sesamoid bone of the great toe, the capsule of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint and lateral surface of the base of the 1st proximal phalanx. This muscle was classified into four types based on the origin of its oblique head and was classified into three types based on the origin of its transverse head. The percent ratio of the weight of the oblique head to the total weight of all the intrinsic muscles of the foot was 9.4% ± 1.5, and the transverse head was 1.5% ± 0.6 (n = 14). The transverse head of ADH tends to be reduced in size in the human, but the oblique head is well developed with no sign of reduction.     

Pseudoganglion on the connecting branch between the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve and medial plantar nerve

The connecting branch between the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve and medial plantar nerve often has an enlarged site. We investigated these enlarged sites of the connecting branches. We observed the 22 human feet of 20 Japanese cadavers. We investigated the connecting branch macroscopically and histologically. We found the connecting branches between the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve and medial plantar nerve in 19 feet out of 22 feet. This connecting nerve branch was interposed between the tendon of the flexor hallucis longus and the flexor hallucis brevis, and there enlarged in the anteroposterior direction. After penetration, numbers of fascicles of this connecting branch were increased at the enlarged site. In this region, the connective tissues surrounding the nerve fascicles and vessels were more developed compared with the adjoining sides of this branch. A few fascicles at this enlarged site innervated the first metatarsophalangeal joint capsule. Other nerve fascicles arose from the connecting branch and branched off muscular branches to the flexor hallucis brevis. This branch possibly receives the physical exertion or friction during gait due to its position. Deformity and overload of the foot can cause sensory disorders of the foot, but the anatomical basis for the relationship between the deformity/overload and sensory disorders of the foot is unclear. We discussed that this connecting branch can be a potential cause of pressure neuropathies in the human foot.     

Sural--lateral plantar nerve communications in Japanese macaque

It is generally accepted that the sural nerve in humans contains exclusively sensory and autonomic fibers. Recently, however, a few clinical reports have suggested that the human sural nerve contains motor fibers. On the other hand, it is known that motor fibers are present in the sural nerve of rats and dogs, and that the fibers reach intrinsic muscles of the foot via a communicating branch to the lateral plantar nerve. The author investigated the communicating branch between the sural and lateral plantar nerves in Japanese macaques, and examined both nerves by the fiber analysis method, removing the perineurium under a stereoscopic microscope. The communicating branch was found in all examined macaques. Nerve fibers which derived from the sural nerve via the branch reached the abductor digiti quinti, the flexor digiti quinti brevis, the contrahentes digitorum, the adductor hallucis, the interosseous and the lumbrical muscles. Furthermore, these fibers supplied the lateral part of the skin of the sole and the metatarsophalangeal joints. These findings in the Japanese macaques suggest that we may encounter the communicating branch between the sural and lateral plantar nerves in other primates including humans as in rats and dogs.     

足部相关肌肉、肌腱组织材料弹性模量的测定

背景：目前,几乎所有足部三维有限元模型的材料参数均来自国外研究,尚未见有关国人组织材料参数的测量与报道。 目的：对国人足部的相关肌肉、肌腱材料做测量,获得初步的参数数据。 方法：解剖成年女性左小腿足新鲜标本拇长屈肌及其肌腱、拇短屈肌内外侧头、拇长伸肌及其肌腱、拇收肌横头及斜头、拇展肌,分别测量和计算各试样的截面积和位于夹具之间的长度并记录数值,将标本加载载荷,1个测样反复测量4次,采集强度极限、最大载荷等数据,以及载荷-位移曲线。根据胡克定律,计算各标本的弹性模量。 结果与结论：共得到了包括拇长伸肌、拇长屈肌、拇收肌、拇展肌横头和斜头、拇短屈肌内外侧头、拇长屈肌腱、拇长伸肌腱9个样本的相关测量数据,主要包括长度、宽度、厚度、横截面积、最大载荷、强度极限和弹性模量。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程全文链接：     

足底的血管构筑与跖弓皮瓣、肌皮瓣对足跟缺损的修复

目的：用跖弓皮瓣、肌皮瓣足跟缺损、提供足底三套血管网分布特点的解剖学依据。方法：在２０例福尔马林、４例红色乳胶灌注的成人尸体标本上、观察足底内、外侧动脉的起始、行径、分支及其吻合情况。结果：足底共有三套血管网供血：１．足底内侧动脉的内、外侧支在嘴展肌深面分支分布,形成足底内侧血管网。２．足底内侧动脉外侧支与足底外侧动脉的分支在足底腱膜与趾短屈肌之间吻合形成足底浅弓。３．足底内侧动脉的内侧支与足底外     

Innervation of the abductor digiti minimi muscle of the human foot: anatomical basis of the entrapment of the abductor digiti minimi nerve

The origin, relationships and innervation of the abductor digiti minimi muscle were determined in 145 human feet, from formaldehyde-fixed cadavers. The muscle arises from both processes of the calcaneal tuberosity, from the plantar aponeurosis and from the septum which separates it from the flexor digitorum brevis muscle. The nerve to the abductor digiti minimi muscle arises next to the origin of the lateral plantar nerve, close to the abductor hallucis muscle, and descends becoming closely related to the medial face of the calcaneus and the deep face of the abductor hallucis muscle. Then, it passes inferiorly through the origin of the quadratus plantae muscle and later divides into two branches for the two heads of the muscle.     

Correlation between the course of the medial plantar artery and the morphology of the abductor hallucis muscle

The abductor hallucis muscle flap is commonly used as a proximally-based flap in the management of ankle, heel, and midfoot lesions, where it is ideally suited for closing defects. This study investigates the anatomical details of this muscle in 13 fresh male cadavers. The medial plantar artery (MPA) was studied by dissection and macroscopic analyses to document the relationship of its superficial and deep branches with respect to the abductor hallucis muscle (AHM). Three main patterns could be described. In Pattern A (54%) the MPA divides into two branches. The deep branch reaches the deep surface of the AHM, supplying its proximal part, and the superficial branch courses between the AHM and the flexor digitorum brevis, to end as the first plantar metatarsal artery. The latter supplies two to three small branches to the distal part of the AHM. The fibers of the AHM end symmetrically on the two sides of the tendon and the muscle presents an arciform shape. The MPA, in Pattern B (38%), lacks a deep branch and continues along the lateral border of the AHM as a superficial branch that supplies proximal and distal collaterals to the muscle. The muscle fibers of the AHM end mainly on the medial side of the tendon. The muscle belly presents an arciform shape and is located on the medial margin of the foot superomedially with respect to Pattern A. In Pattern C (8%) the MPA continues as a large deep branch on the deep surface of the AHM and ends as the medial collateral artery of the big toe. A smaller superficial branch of the MPA provides a few collaterals to the AHM from its proximal part and to the flexor digitorum brevis in its distal part. The AHM fibers end mainly on the lateral side of the tendon and morphologically the muscle presents a straight line on the sole of the foot compared to Pattern A. Although Patterns B and C, from a surgical point of view, necessitate interruption of the main trunk of the MPA, Pattern A may permit the vascularization of the muscles of the medial side of the sole of the foot by the superficial trunk of the MPA. Because preoperative radiological study of the plantar vessels correlate with the morphological characteristics of the AHM observed during surgery, such imaging may be useful in determining the appropriate flap design based on the patient's unique pattern of MPA branching.     

足底中间群肌和足背肌肌内神经整体分布模式及意义

目的 揭示足底中间群和足背肌的肌内神经整体分布模式，探讨其意义。 方法 取下12具经福尔马林固定的成人尸体足底中间群肌和足背肌，改良的Sihler’s染色法显示肌内神经整体分布模式。 结果 接受足底内侧神经支配的趾短屈肌、第1和第2蚓状肌的神经支，分别从肌的内侧深面和浅面入肌；接受足底外侧神经支配的足底方肌、第3和第4蚓状肌的神经支从肌止端走向起端；骨间足底肌和骨间背侧肌的神经支从肌起端走向止端。趾短伸肌和母短伸肌的神经支共干。蚓状肌、第1和第2骨间足底肌、第1骨间背侧、母短伸肌和趾短伸肌仅在肌腹中部形成1个肌内神经密集区；趾短屈肌、足底方肌、第3骨间足底肌以及第2~4骨间背侧肌有2个肌内神经密集区，位于肌腹两侧，这些肌可分为2个神经肌亚部。 结论 这些结果可为外科手术免于神经损伤、肌移植的选材匹配，以及注射肉毒毒素A阻滞这些肌的痉挛提供形态学指导。     

人鱼际肌的肌内神经分支分布和肌梭密度研究

目的探索鱼际肌肌肌内神经分支和肌梭密度的分布。方法采用改良Sihler’s肌内神经染色法和HE染色法进行解剖学研究。结果鱼际肌的神经常从肌起端深面入肌,神经入肌后在拇短展肌、拇对掌肌、拇收肌横头内与肌长轴垂直走向,拇收肌斜头和拇短屈肌内沿肌长轴平行走形。80%～82.5%的拇短屈肌和拇指对掌肌接受正中神经和尺神经的双重支配。拇短屈肌浅头和深头、拇收肌横头和斜头有独立的神经支配,可分出神经肌肉亚部。4块肌内神经分支分布密集区多在肌的中部与近端,可见"Y"、"O"、"H"或"U"型等不同的神经吻合形式。鱼际肌肌梭密度高达16.19～27.14个/g,高低顺序为拇指对掌肌拇短屈肌拇短展肌拇收肌。结论鱼际肌肌内神经吻合丰富,肌梭密度高,除拇对掌肌外,其余肌块可作整肌或半肌移植的供体。     

Homology of the adductor pollicis and contrahentes muscles: a study of monkey hands

The deep palmar muscles in monkey hands were studied. The contrahentes muscles mainly arose from the capitate bone, descended palmar to the deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve and the palmar metacarpophalangeal nerves, and attached to the proximal phalanges or wing tendons of the second, fourth and fifth fingers. In relation to the deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve and the palmar metacarpophalangeal nerves, the contrahentes muscles are homologous with the adductor pollicis and flexor indicis radialis muscles. The contrahentes muscles occasionally gave off some accessory slips which blended with the interosseous muscles. These findings suggest that the human adductor pollicis muscle is a well-developed remnant of a contrahens muscle, and that the human interosseous muscles contain some remnant of the contrahentes muscle. In fact, a well-developed remnant of a contrahens muscle was found in the fourth finger of a human hand. It is further considered that the human adductor pollicis muscle contains an element of the interosseous muscle of the thumb.     

The communicating branch of the lateral plantar nerve: A descriptive anatomic study

Since the communicating branch of the lateral plantar nerve has been implicated as a factor in the etiology of Morton's neuroma, a painful perineurofibrosis of a common plantar digital nerve, this project was designed to investigate the anatomy of this communicating branch. Both feet of 40 embalmed human cadavers were dissected to show the frequency of occurrence and anatomical variation of the communicating branch. The communicating branch was present in 66.2% of the feet we studied with no large gender-based differences. Branches occurred bilaterally in 52.5% of cadavers, while 27.5% had branches unilaterally. The occurrence of this branch does not correlate well with the likelihood of development of Morton's neuroma. Differences in diameter of the communicating branch ranged from less than 0.5 mm to as large as the common plantar digital nerves themselves, about 2 mm. The presence or absence of the communicating branch made no qualitative difference in the diameters of the common plantar digital nerves. There were 60.4% of the communicating branches in this study that had a typically-described orientation, arising more proximally in the foot from the fourth common plantar digital nerve, while 39.6% of the branches had a reversed orientation, arising more proximally from the third common plantar digital nerve. These reversed branches had a more oblique orientation when compared to the classic branches. Other anatomical variations were noted, including accessory branches that attached to deeper structures in the foot. These data form a basis for further research into the etiology of Morton's neuroma and improved surgical techniques for correcting this condition. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Nerve supply to and the true nature of anterior supracostal muscle: three cases of the anterior supracostal muscle innervated by the external muscular branch of the first intercostal nerve having lateral cutaneous branch

316 body-halves were examined in order to clarify nerve supply to human anterior supracostal muscle and to reveal the true nature of this particular muscle. 14 body-halves were found to have this muscle. It was innervated by the external muscular branch of the first intercostal nerve having lateral cutaneous branch in 3 out of 14 cases, and by the external muscular branch of the first intercostal nerve lacking lateral cutaneous branch in the remaining 11. As the former 3 cases have not been reported yet, we have examined the anatomy of these muscles in detail, and nerve supply to the anterior supracostal muscle and the true nature of this muscle were discussed in the present study. As a result, it was found that the anterior supracostal muscle is innervated essentially by an element of the components of the external muscular branch, and the muscle is derived from the first external intercostal muscle or rarely from the first and second external intercostal muscles. Moreover, it was inferred that the frequency of occurrence of the anterior supracostal muscle innervated by the intercostal nerve having lateral cutaneous branch is very low.     

Multiple muscular variations including tenuissimus and tensor fasciae suralis muscles in the posterior thigh of a human case

The posterior thigh muscles on the right side of an 81-year-old male cadaver had multiple variations, denoted muscles I–IV. Muscle I originated from the posteromedial surface of the greater trochanter and divided into two muscle bellies. These muscle bellies fused with the long head of the biceps femoris and were innervated by two branches from muscular branches of the semitendinosus and the long head of the biceps. Muscle II separated from the medial surface of the long head of the biceps in the proximal third and fused with the semitendinosus in the distal fourth. Muscle III was a biventer muscle. Its superior belly separated from the medial surface of the long head of the biceps in the distal third. The inferior belly of this muscle fused with the posterior surface of the crural fascia and was innervated by the tibial nerve. Muscle IV separated from the adductor magnus muscle, passed between the long and short heads of the biceps, fused with the inferior belly of muscle III, and was innervated by the muscular branch of the common fibular nerve to the short head of the biceps. Peeling off the epineurium of the muscular branches to the inferior belly of muscle III showed that this nerve fascicle divided from the common trunk with branches to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The inferior bellies of muscle III and muscle IV were thought to be equivalent to the tensor fasciae suralis and tenuissimus muscles, respectively.     

Accessory peroneal nerves in the human

The Nervus peroneus profundus accessorius was described by Ruge (1878) in the lower mammals and for the first time identified by Bryce (1897) in man. It is an accessory terminal branch of the superficial peroneal (musculocutaneous) nerve which winds round the lateral malleolus beneath the tendons of the peronei muscles and reaches the dorsum of the foot; there it often supplies the lateral portion of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle. In further investigations this nerve has been traced in 21.2% of subjects resp. in 13.5% of legs. This nerve, however, is not the only accessory branch of the common peroneal nerve: In 14 out of 140 subjects (10%) resp. in 22 out of 280 legs (7.9%) a Nervus peroneus superficialis accessorius has been found. This nerve pierces the anterior crural intermuscular septum either in common with deep peroneal (anterior tibial) nerve or at a lower point. Then it descends in front of the septum rarely giving off muscular branches to the extensor digitorum longus and peroneus tertius muscles; in the lower half of the leg it pierces the crural fascia, passes in front of the ankle joint and becomes the medial cutaneous nerve of the dorsum of the foot. This accessory superficial peroneal nerve may be of importance in surgery of the leg and foot.     

A rare muscular anomaly in the upper arm--the chondroepitrochlearis muscle with an aberrant type of the muscular arch of axilla.

A rare muscular anomaly was found in the right arm of a 92-year-old man at Nagoya University in 1995. The anomalous muscle had two heads, one ventral and one dorsal. The ventral head was a continuation of the abdominal part of the pectoralis major muscle, and the dorsal head arose from the lateral surface of the latissimus dorsi muscle. The two heads united at the medical surface of the upper third of the arm to form a common tendon, which descended on the medial surface of the upper arm parallel with a long tendon of the coracobrachialis muscle and attached to the medial epicondyle of the humerus. This anomalous muscle was supplied by the most caudal branch of the pectoral ansa (caudal pectoral nerve) and the intercostobrachial nerve (Th2). This pectoral nerve first innervated the ventral head, and next the greater part of the dorsal head. The intercostobrachial nerve (Th2) innervated a small part of the dorsal head. The present anomaly looked quite similar to the case reported by Yokoh as the coexistence of the chondroepitrochlearis and the dorsoepitrochlearis muscles. However, judging from the muscular origin, insertion and innervation, the ventral head was considered to be the chondroepitrochlearis muscle, whereas the dorsal head was not dorsoepitrochlearis muscle but an aberrant type of the muscular arch of axilla.