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A combined variation of the musculocutaneous nerve associated with a supernumerary head of the biceps brachii muscle
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Abstract
Single anatomical variation in the upper limb is common, but the coexistence of neuromuscular anomalies is still rare. We found a combined neuromuscular variation in the upper limb in a 61-year-old Korean male cadaver, whose cause of death was laryngeal carcinoma, during a routine dissection course for medical students. In his left arm, a supernumerary head of the biceps brachii muscle attached to the anteromedial surface of mid-humerus and united distally with the long and short heads of the biceps brachii muscle (BBM). The musculocutaneous nerve, which did not pierce the coracobrachialis muscle but gave 2 muscular branches, had a communicating branch to the median nerve. Since the presence of the supernumerary head of the BBM might affect the course and branching of the musculocutaneous nerve, knowing different patterns of the musculocutaneous variation associated with the BBM variations is essential for anatomists and clinicians.
Abstract
Single anatomical variation in the upper limb is common, but the coexistence of neuromuscular anomalies is still rare. We found a combined neuromuscular variation in the upper limb in a 61-year-old Korean male cadaver, whose cause of death was laryngeal carcinoma, during a routine dissection course for medical students. In his left arm, a supernumerary head of the biceps brachii muscle attached to the anteromedial surface of mid-humerus and united distally with the long and short heads of the biceps brachii muscle (BBM). The musculocutaneous nerve, which did not pierce the coracobrachialis muscle but gave 2 muscular branches, had a communicating branch to the median nerve. Since the presence of the supernumerary head of the BBM might affect the course and branching of the musculocutaneous nerve, knowing different patterns of the musculocutaneous variation associated with the BBM variations is essential for anatomists and clinicians.
Keywords
supernumerary head, biceps brachii muscle, musculocutaneous nerve, communicating branch
About this articleTitle
A combined variation of the musculocutaneous nerve associated with a supernumerary head of the biceps brachii muscle
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
366-369
Published online
2014-09-05
Page views
1362
Article views/downloads
1697
DOI
10.5603/FM.2014.0054
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2014;73(3):366-369.
Keywords
supernumerary head
biceps brachii muscle
musculocutaneous nerve
communicating branch
Authors
S. H. Lee
J. Y. Jeon
S. P. Yoon
