Anatomy and morphometry of the distal gracilis muscle tendon in adults and foetuses.

Abstract

Ten human gracilis muscles obtained from adults and ten gracilis muscles collected from human foetuses between the 15th and 21st week of gestation were examined. The results of this preparatory study show that the gracilis muscle in adults is narrow and long - 482 mm on average. The distal tendon of gracilis muscle is long, 294 mm on average. It can be divided into two sections - external part, outside the muscle belly, and internal, intramuscular, part. The latter one is partially covered by muscle fibres and some of it is completely hidden inside the muscle belly, which is on average 76 mm long. Presence of an intramuscular part of the distal tendon was also demonstrated in the foetal material. Moreover, very strong correlations between particular muscle lengths were noted in foetuses. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 1: 138-143).