Skip to main content
Log in

An accessory belly of the abductor digiti minimi muscle: a case report and embryologic aspects

  • Anatomic variations
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Accessory fasciculi of the hypothenar muscles have been involved in vascular and nerve compressions. During a routine dissection an accessory belly of the abductor digiti minimi muscle arising from the tendon of the palmaris longus muscle was found in the lower third of the forearm. The accessory fasciculus ran through Guyon’s canal enclosing the ulnar nerve and vessels. It was attached by means of two tendons where the fibres of the abductor digiti minimi muscle ended in a single pennate form. This anatomic variation was associated with a marked reduction of the caliber of the fourth tendon of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle and a split of the median nerve. The nerve supply arose from the ulnar nerve. A fibrous band originating from this accessory muscular belly was found covering the median nerve. Based on the development of muscles and fibrous structures within the hand and forearm, as well as on our results, we consider the present anomalies as an unusual persistence of an undifferentiated group of mesenchymal cells. These belong to the superficial muscular anlagen layer of the hand, just between the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle blastema (which has the capacity of migration) and that for the abductor digiti minimi muscle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Soldado-Carrera, F., Vilar-Coromina, N. & Rodríguez-Baeza, A. An accessory belly of the abductor digiti minimi muscle: a case report and embryologic aspects. Surg Radiol Anat 22, 51–54 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-000-0051-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-000-0051-1

Key words

Navigation