An unreported variant of palmaris longus muscle.

Abstract

Palmaris longus is a highly variable muscle of the forearm. Knowledge of its variability is of importance to plastic surgeons, hand surgeons and radiologists. During our routine dissection classes for undergraduate medical students, a peculiar palmaris longus muscle was noted in the left upper limb of an adult male cadaver. The muscle had a fleshy belly in the middle and two tendons: a proximal and distal. The distal tendon of palmaris longus gave origin to a variant fleshy slip of muscle which was inserted partly to the pisiform bone and partly merged with the hypothenar muscles. The ulnar nerve and artery passed deep to this variant fleshy slip. The ulnar artery was tortuous both proximal and distal to this slip. The distal loop of the ulnar artery was very superficial and was in the median position. Both the palmaris longus and the variant fleshy slip were innervated by median nerve.