A morphological study of termination of popliteal artery with its clinical significance

Abstract Out of 120 specimens of inferior extremities the normal termination of popliteal artery at the lower border of popliteal muscle into anterior tibial and posterior tibial arteries was observed in 52 specimens (43.33%) i.e. Group A. The trifurcation of popliteal artery was seen in 6 specimens (5%) i.e. Group B, In Group C, 4 specimens (3.33%) showed the origin of the peroneal artery from the low anterior tibial artery. In Group D, 2 specimens (3.33%) showed "Island" of popliteal artery. In 16 specimens (13.33%) the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle and travelled downwards on the posterior surface of the popliteus muscle i.e. Group E. In Group F, 4 specimens (3.33%) showed the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle. It travelled downwards on the posterior surface of the popliteus muscle and gave origin to the peroneal artery. In Group G, 10 specimens (8.33%) showed the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle. It travelled downwards on the anterior surface of the popliteus muscle. In Group H, 6 specimens (5%) showed the anterior tibial artery originated from popliteal artery proximal to the popliteus muscle. It travelled downwards on the anterior surface of the popliteus muscle and gave origin to the peroneal artery. In 6 specimens (5%) the posterior tibial artery was absent i.e. Group I. In Group J, 8 specimens (6.67%) showed the small anterior tibial artery. The dorsalis pedis artery was given by the posterior tibial artery and in Group k, 6 specimens (5%) showed the small anterior and posterior tibial artery. The dorsalis pedis artery was given by the peroneal artery. There is a convenient and preferred surgical procedure. The knowledge of variant termination of popliteal artery is important during arthroscopic knee surgery in order to minimize the surgical complications. The variation in the termination of the popliteal artery should be kept in mind by the orthopaedicians doing knee joint surgery and total knee arthroplasty, by the surgeons operating on aneurysms of popliteal artery and by the radiologist performing angiographic study

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN CASE REPORTS VARIANT ULNAR HEAD OF FLEXOR CARPI ULNARIS MUSCLE

ABSTRACT During routine dissection, of the right upper limb of 70 years old donated embalmed male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, K.J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India, we observed a separate humeral and ulnar heads of flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. To recognise Anatomical variations it is necessary to know the normal Anatomy. Normally the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle arises by two heads, humeral and ulnar, connected by a tendinous arch. The humeral head arises from the medial epicondyle via the common flexor tendon. The ulnar head arises from the medial margin of the olecranon process and an aponeurosis attached to the posterior sub cutaneous border of the ulna. The tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris inserted into the hamate and the fifth metacarpal bone through pisohamate and pisometacarpal ligaments. In the present case the ulnar head of flexor carpi ulnaris muscle was more bulky. It separated ulnar nerve and artery. The humeral and ulnar heads were separated from each other by ulnar nerve. These two heads fused with each other just before their insertion, where the ulnar artery came in contact with ulnar nerve. The further course and distribution of ulnar artery and ulnar nerve were normal. The knowledge of such unusual ulnar head separating ulnar artery and ulnar nerve may be clinically important for plastic surgeons doing flap surgeries and for the surgeon dealing with cubital tunnel syndrome. INTRODUCTION Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle is the medial most muscle of the superficial flexor group. It arises by two heads, humeral and ulnar, connected by a tendinous arch. The small humeral head arises from the medial epicondyle via the common flexor tendon. The ulnar head has an extensive origin from the medial margin of the olecranon process and proximal two-thirds of the posterior border of the ulna, an aponeurosis (along with flexor digitorum profundus and extensor carpi ulnaris) and from the intermuscular septum between it and flexor digitorum superficialis. A thick tendon forms along its anterolateral border in its distal half. The tendon is attached to the pisiform, and thence prolonged to the hamate and the fifth metacarpal bone by pisohamate and pisometacarpal ligaments (pisiform is the sesamoid bone developing in the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris). Acting with the flexor carp