Vol 83, No 2 (2024): Folia Morphologica
Case report
Published online: 2023-11-08
A three-headed plantaris muscle fused with Kaplan fibres: potential clinical significance
Abstract
The plantaris is a short, small muscle that usually originates at the popliteal surface of the femur and has a long, thin tendon that typically inserts into the calcaneal tuberosity. Its role and degree of development have been objects of debate for years. Some authors consider it a vestigial muscle while others believe it is a process of its development. The clinical significance of plantaris muscle is usually related to its morphological variation, which is common and well described in the literature. These variations are often a risk factor for many ailments and disorders. We would like to present another, very rare case of three-headed plantaris muscle (fused with distal Kaplan fibres), and consider what clinical implications it may have.
Keywords: plantaris musclerudimentary muscledevelopment muscleKaplan fibresknee stabilitythree headed plantaris
References
- Aragão J, Reis F, Guerra D, et al. The occurrence of the plantaris muscle and its muscle-tendon relationship in adult human cadavers. Int J Morphol. 2010; 28(1): 255–258.
- Batty L, Murgier J, O'Sullivan R, et al. The kaplan fibers of the iliotibial band can be identified on routine knee magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Sports Med. 2019; 47(12): 2895–2903.
- Batty LM, Murgier J, Feller JA, et al. Radiological identification of injury to the Kaplan fibers of the iliotibial band in association with anterior cruciate ligament injury. Am J Sports Med. 2020; 48(9): 2213–2220.
- Berthold DP, Willinger L, Muench LN, et al. Visualization of proximal and distal Kaplan fibers using 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging and anatomic dissection. Am J Sports Med. 2020; 48(8): 1929–1936.
- Chen HG, Xue PR, Wang CT, et al. Variation of plantaris muscle: a case report with clinical significance. Int J Morphol. 2022; 40(3): 851–854.
- Cruveilhier J. Anatomie Descriptive, 1st ed. Becket Jeune, Paris 1834.
- Daselar EH, Anson BJ. The plantaris muscle: an anatomical study of 750 specimens. J Bone Jt Surg. 1943; 25(4): 822–827.
- Flato R, Passanante GJ, Skalski MR, et al. The iliotibial tract: imaging, anatomy, injuries, and other pathology. Skeletal Radiol. 2017; 46(5): 605–622.
- Geeslin AG, Chahla J, Moatshe G, et al. Anterolateral knee extra-articular stabilizers: a robotic sectioning study of the anterolateral ligament and distal iliotibial band kaplan fibers. Am J Sports Med. 2018; 46(6): 1352–1361.
- Gruber W. Über den Musculus plantaris bicaudatus mit Endigung seines supernumerären Schwanzes im Ligamentum popliteum. Arch Anat Physiol Wissen Med. 1874: 467–473.
- Iordache E, Hirschmann M, Amsler F, et al. Injuries of Kaplan fibers in ACL deficient and reconstructed knees — redefining the structure and risk assessment on MRI using injury patterns. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021; 9(6_suppl2): 2325967121S0018.
- Kwinter D, Lagrew J, Kretzer J, et al. Unilateral double plantaris muscle: a rare anatomical variation. Int J Morphol. 2010; 28(4): 1097–1099.
- Lutz C, Sonnery-Cottet B, Niglis L, et al. Behavior of the anterolateral structures of the knee during internal rotation. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2015; 101(5): 523–528.
- Lynch TB, Bernot JM, Oettel DJ, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging does not reliably detect Kaplan fiber injury in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament tear. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2022; 30(5): 1769–1775.
- Maślanka K, Zielinska N, Tubbs RS, et al. Five-headed superior omohyoid. Folia Morphol. 2023; 82(4): 975–979.
- Olewnik Ł, Kurtys K, Gonera B, et al. Proposal for a new classification of plantaris muscle origin and its potential effect on the knee joint. Ann Anat. 2020; 231: 151506.
- Olewnik Ł, Wysiadecki G, Podgórski M, et al. The plantaris muscle tendon and its relationship with the achilles tendinopathy. Biomed Res Int. 2018; 2018: 9623579.
- Olewnik Ł, Wysiadecki G, Polguj M, et al. Anatomic study suggests that the morphology of the plantaris tendon may be related to Achilles tendonitis. Surg Radiol Anat. 2017; 39(1): 69–75.
- Olewnik Ł, Zielinska N, Karauda P, et al. A three-headed plantaris muscle: evidence that the plantaris is not a vestigial muscle? Surg Radiol Anat. 2020; 42(10): 1189–1193.
- Olewnik Ł, Podgórski M, Polguj M, et al. The plantaris muscle — rare relations to the neurovascular bundle in the popliteal fossa. Folia Morphol. 2018; 77(4): 785–788.
- Rana K, Das S, Verma R. Double plantaris muscle: a cadaveric study with clinical importance. Int J Morphol. 2006; 24(3).
- Rauber A, Kopsch F, Quain J. Rauber's Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen. G. Thieme, Leipzig 1987.
- Dos Santos MA, Bertelli JA, Kechele PR, et al. Anatomical study of the plantaris tendon: reliability as a tendo-osseous graft. Surg Radiol Anat. 2009; 31(1): 59–61.
- Sayac G, Goimard A, Klasan A, et al. The anatomy of Kaplan fibers. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2021; 141(3): 447–454.
- Simpson SL, Hertzog MS, Barja RH. The plantaris tendon graft: an ultrasound study. J Hand Surg Am. 1991; 16(4): 708–711.
- Spang C, Alfredson H, Docking SI, et al. The plantaris tendon: a narrative review focusing on anatomical features and clinical importance. Bone Joint J. 2016; 98-B(10): 1312–1319.
- van Sterkenburg MN, Kerkhoffs GM, Kleipool RP, et al. The plantaris tendon and a potential role in mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: an observational anatomical study. J Anat. 2011; 218(3): 336–341.
- Upsana KA. Bicipital origin of plantaris muscle — a case report. Int J Anat Var. 2011; 4(1): 177–179.
- Waśniewska-Włodarczyk A, Paulsen F, Olewnik Ł, et al. Morphological variability of the plantaris tendon in the human fetus. Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1): 16871.
- Wood J. III. On some varieties in human myology. Proc Roy Soc Lond B. 1864; 13: 299–303.
- Wood J. XVIII. Additional varieties in human myology. Proc Roy Soc Lond B. 1865; 14: 379–392.
