Anatomy Atlases: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus I: Muscular System: Alphabetical Listing of Muscles: Q: Quadratus Plantae
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus I:
Muscular System: Alphabetical Listing of Muscles: Q
Quadratus Plantae
Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
Also known as flexor accessorius this muscle is commonly reduced in
size: the lateral head may be missing, as may, the medial head or
whole muscle. Heads may be duplicated or divided into superficial or
deep parts. The manner of attachment to the tendon of flexor
digitorum longus longus varies. The muscle may be inserted in part or
wholly into the long flexor of the great toe. Quadratus plantae may
recieve (in about 5% of cases) an accessory slip from the fibula or
tibia, one of the muscles of the leg or foot, or the medial surface
of the calcaneus or related areas (see m.
flexor hallucis longus).
Macalister has reported the variations of this muscle as
follows:
1. It may have a high origin from the lower third of the
fibula, ending in a distinct tendon which passes under the annular
ligament, joins with the rest of accessorius (Gantzer);
2. A high origin from the fascia over the flexor hallucis
longus, with a course like the last. This has been seen in two
bundles, one beside the tibia, and one over the flexor hallucis,
the tendon of this bifurcated, and one inserted into the hallucis
communis brevis (flexor digitorum brevis);
3. With an origin from the insertion of the plantaris tendon
and the upper part of the os calcis;
4. With an origin from the calcaneo-cuboid ligament;
5. Wood described a variation of this muscle, which possessed
a fibular head and heads like those described in 3. an 4. above,
together with a usual attachment; these all uniting, formed with
the flexor hallucis a distinct, deep, or third set of flexors for
the four lateral toes, each of these joined the perforans inside
the sheath, opposite the first joint;
6. Mr. Wood. found the accessorius to arise by a tendon from
the medial side of the os calcis;
7. A tendon from the lateral head of accessorius joined the
perforated tendon of the middle toe;
8. The accessorius may have no connection to the fourth, or
fifth toe tendons;
9. Sending a few fibers to flexor hallucis;
10. With a slip from the medial side, or, from the deep
surface of the soleus (Turner);
11. A slip from the fascia of the back of the leg to the
inside of the os calcis, close to the accessorius, is described by
Gantzer as the accessorius ad calcaneum;
12. An accessory muscle in a deformed limb was found by
Ringhoffer, it arose from the middle third of the limb, along with
the flexor digitorum communis, and was inserted into the caro
quadrata (quadratus plantae);
13. The plantar accessorius receiving a slip from the peroneus
brevis;
14. Its insertion may be to the outer (lateral) border of the
tendons;
15. Or to their undersurface;
16. With no connection to the third and fourth tendons;
17. Sending an accessory slip to the deep tendon of the little
toe;
18. It may be inserted into the communis, partly to the
connecting slip from the hallucis, and to tendons of the second,
third, and fourth toes;
19. Sometimes a few fibers go to the hallucis;
20. Inserted into the connecting link alone;
21. A slip from the muscle to the tendon of the flexor brevis
digitorum for the third toe;
22. A slip from the inner side of the os calcis sending a
tendon to the distal phalanx of the little toe, and one to the
point of insertion of the accessorius.
Syn.: m. caput plantae flexoris digiti plantae longi, Caro
quadrata Sylvii, quadratus plantae pedis, Accessorius perforantis,
Biemuskel, Kurzer Bauch des gemeinsch. Beugers, Accessoire du long fléchisseur
(Cruveilhier).
References
Anson, B.J., Ed. (1966) Morris' Human Anatomy, 12th ed., The
Blakiston Division, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.
Gruber, W. (1877) Uber den Musculus peroneo-tibialis beim
Menschen. Arch. Anat. Physiol. Wissen. Med. 1877:401-410.
Macalister, A. (1866-69) On muscular anomalies in human anatomy,
and their bearing upon homotypical myology. Proc. Roy. Irish Acad.
10:126-164.
Ouchi, H. (1953) On the variation of the muscles (M.
sternocleidomastoidens, M. flexor digitorum brevis, M. quadratus
plantae). Kaibogaku Zasshi 28:Supple. Kanto 9-10. In Japanese.
Perkins, J.D. (1914) An anomalous muscle of the leg:
peroneo-calcaneus internus. Anat. Rec. 8:21-25.
Winckler, G. (1928-29) La morphogénèse de la chair carée
de Sylvius. Arch. Anat. Hist. Emb. 9:311-341.
Winckler, G. (1955) La veritable terminasion de la chair caree de
Sylvius (musc. quadratus plantae). Arch. Anat. Hist. Emb.
38:46-66.
Wood, J. (1864) On some varieties in human myology. Proc. Roy.
Soc. Lond. 13:299-303.
"Anatomy Atlases", the Anatomy Atlases logo, and "A digital library of anatomy information" are all Trademarks of Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.
Anatomy Atlases is funded in whole by Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D. Advertising is not accepted.
Your personal information remains confidential and is not sold, leased, or given to any third party be they reliable or not.
The information contained in Anatomy Atlases is not a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician. There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
