Multiple muscular variations in the neck region - case study

Abstract

During routine educational dissection studies, we encountered multiple muscular anomalies in a 25-year-old embalmed male cadaver. The muscular anomalies were observed on the right side. In accordance with their origin, insertion and innervation features, the abnormal muscles were considered sternocleidooccipital, sternomastoid and cleidomastoid muscles. The unilateral muscle variations were observed in both the superficial and deep layer. In the superficial layer, there were two muscles and one muscle bundle, while there was only one muscle in the deep layer. The first muscle in the superficial layer, known as sternocleidooccipital muscle, consisted of clavicular head and sternal head. The second muscle in the superficial layer was sternomastoid muscle. The muscle observed in the deep layer was cleidomastoid muscle. Additionally, a muscular bundle was observed between the sternocleidooccipital and sternomastoid muscles. A combination of these variations in the same case has not, to our knowledge, been previously described in the available literature.