open access
A rare case of bilateral supernumerary heads of sternocleidomastoid muscle and its clinical impact
open access
Abstract
The cervical region of an elderly male cadaver was dissected and the findings were recorded and photographed.
On both sides, the SCM muscle had an additional sternal head, and simultaneously there were three additional clavicular heads, four in total. These additional heads, the sternal and the clavicular, reduced the interval between them causing significant stenosis of the minor supraclavicular fossa.
Sternocleidomastoid muscle variations with regard to the number of its heads are very rare in the literature, but this variation may cause severe complications. The minor supraclavicular fossa is important for anaesthesiologists because of the anterior central venous catheterization approach. Physicians should be aware of this anatomical variation in order to prevent complications
Abstract
The cervical region of an elderly male cadaver was dissected and the findings were recorded and photographed.
On both sides, the SCM muscle had an additional sternal head, and simultaneously there were three additional clavicular heads, four in total. These additional heads, the sternal and the clavicular, reduced the interval between them causing significant stenosis of the minor supraclavicular fossa.
Sternocleidomastoid muscle variations with regard to the number of its heads are very rare in the literature, but this variation may cause severe complications. The minor supraclavicular fossa is important for anaesthesiologists because of the anterior central venous catheterization approach. Physicians should be aware of this anatomical variation in order to prevent complications
Keywords
sternocleidomastoid muscle; heads; supernumerary
Title
A rare case of bilateral supernumerary heads of sternocleidomastoid muscle and its clinical impact
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
52-54
Published online
2008-11-25
Page views
888
Article views/downloads
1785
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2009;68(1):52-54.
Keywords
sternocleidomastoid muscle
heads
supernumerary
Authors
K. Natsis
I. Asouchidou
M. Vasileiou
E. Papathanasiou
G. Noussios
G. Paraskevas