Accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
The accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle is an accessory muscle in the deep posterior compartment of the leg with a reported prevalence of 6-8%. Unilateral muscles are more common although bilateral cases have been reported.
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Summary
- origin: variable; either the medial margin of the tibia and deep posterior compartment fascia; or the fibula1,3
- insertion: variable; either the quadratus plantae, tendon of flexor digitorum longus or both 1,3
Gross anatomy
The accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle arises from the medial margin of the tibia and the deep posterior compartment fascia or from the fibula. Its insertion may occur into the quadratus plantae muscle, tendon of flexor digitorum longus or both.
Related pathology
The accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle may compress the neurovascular bundle within the tarsal tunnel and cause tarsal tunnel syndrome 1,3. The accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle has also been reported to contribute to the development of flexor hallucis longus tenosynovitis 4.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
- joints of the lower limb
- hip joint
- knee joint
- tibiofibular joints
-
ankle joint
- regional anatomy
- medial ankle
- lateral ankle
- anterior ankle
- ligaments
- medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- additional structures
- ankle bursae
- ossification centers of the ankle
- variants
- regional anatomy
- foot joints
-
subtalar joint
- articulations
- ligaments
- associated structures
- mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint
-
tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint
- ligaments
- intermetatarsal joint
- metatarsophalangeal joint
- interphalangeal joint
-
subtalar joint
- spaces of the lower limb
-
muscles of the lower limb
- muscles of the pelvic group
- inner hip group
- gluteal region
- lateral rotator group
- muscles of the thigh
- muscles of the leg
- anterior compartment of the leg
- posterior compartments of the leg
- lateral compartment of the leg
- muscles of the foot
- dorsal muscles
- plantar muscles
- 1st layer
- 2nd layer
- 3rd layer
- 4th layer
- accessory muscles
- muscles of the pelvic group
- vascular supply of the lower limb
- innervation of the lower limb
- lymphatic system of the lower limb
- lymphatic pathways
- anteromedial group
- anterolateral group
- posteromedial group
- posterolateral group
- lower limb lymph nodes
- lymphatic pathways
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