open access

Vol 65, No 3 (2006)
Case report
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2006-06-08
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A case of atypical insertion of the levator scapulae

M. Loukas, R.G. Louis Jr., W. Merbs
Folia Morphol 2006;65(3):232-235.

open access

Vol 65, No 3 (2006)
CASE REPORTS
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2006-06-08

Abstract

Anatomical variations in the musculature of the spine have the potential to cause functional and postural abnormalities, which in turn could lead to chronic myofascial and skeletal pain. We present a unilateral case of a 71-year-old Caucasian female in which the left levator scapulae muscle gave rise to an accessory head that inserted, by way of a flat aponeurotic band, to the ligamentum nuchae, the tendon of the rhomboideus major and the superior aspect of the serratus posterior superior muscle. The innervation was provided by a branch of the dorsal scapular nerve. By exerting unilateral traction on the vertebrae and surrounding musculature, this unusual variation might have resulted in clinical consequences including scoliosis and movement abnormalities of the head and neck as well as myofascial pain syndrome.

Abstract

Anatomical variations in the musculature of the spine have the potential to cause functional and postural abnormalities, which in turn could lead to chronic myofascial and skeletal pain. We present a unilateral case of a 71-year-old Caucasian female in which the left levator scapulae muscle gave rise to an accessory head that inserted, by way of a flat aponeurotic band, to the ligamentum nuchae, the tendon of the rhomboideus major and the superior aspect of the serratus posterior superior muscle. The innervation was provided by a branch of the dorsal scapular nerve. By exerting unilateral traction on the vertebrae and surrounding musculature, this unusual variation might have resulted in clinical consequences including scoliosis and movement abnormalities of the head and neck as well as myofascial pain syndrome.
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Keywords

levator scapulae; serrratus posterior superior; occipitoscapularis; cervical musculature; scoliolis; myofascial pain syndrome

About this article
Title

A case of atypical insertion of the levator scapulae

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 65, No 3 (2006)

Article type

Case report

Pages

232-235

Published online

2006-06-08

Page views

828

Article views/downloads

2435

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2006;65(3):232-235.

Keywords

levator scapulae
serrratus posterior superior
occipitoscapularis
cervical musculature
scoliolis
myofascial pain syndrome

Authors

M. Loukas
R.G. Louis Jr.
W. Merbs

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