Prevalence and morphology of the gastrocnemius tertius: anatomical study and literature review.

IF 1.4 4区医学 Q2 Medicine

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Pub Date : 2025-03-28 DOI:10.1007/s00276-025-03625-9

George Triantafyllou, Nicol Zielinska, Maria Piagkou, Krzysztof Koptas, Andrzej Węgiel, Łukasz Olewnik

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Abstract

Background: The gastrocnemius muscle (GM) third head or gastrocnemius tertius (GT) is a well-described GM variant. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the GT prevalence and morphology (including the proximal and distal attachments, and relationship with the neurovascular structures) in a cadaveric Central European population.

Methods: A total of seventy-three lower limbs were dissected and investigated for GT presence; when the variant was identified, morphometric measurements were obtained.

Results: The GM third head was observed in 10.96% (8/73 cases) under the form of two different morphological variants. The commonest variant type (6 cases) with proximal attachment from the femur posterior surface and fused with the GM lateral head. The second variant type (2 cases) proximal attachment was from the femur posterior surface and fused with the GM medial head. To understand this variation, we performed a brief literature review with meta-analysis. The GT variant has been identified with a pooled prevalence of 4.34%, under great morphological variability.

Conclusion: Clinicians, especially orthopaedics, should be aware of this variant, as it has been proven to cause popliteal neurovascular compression.

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来源期刊

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Medicine-Pathology and Forensic Medicine

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

14.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： Anatomy is a morphological science which cannot fail to interest the clinician. The practical application of anatomical research to clinical problems necessitates special adaptation and selectivity in choosing from numerous international works. Although there is a tendency to believe that meaningful advances in anatomy are unlikely, constant revision is necessary. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, the first international journal of Clinical anatomy has been created in this spirit. Its goal is to serve clinicians, regardless of speciality-physicians, surgeons, radiologists or other specialists-as an indispensable aid with which they can improve their knowledge of anatomy. Each issue includes: Original papers, review articles, articles on the anatomical bases of medical, surgical and radiological techniques, articles of normal radiologic anatomy, brief reviews of anatomical publications of clinical interest. Particular attention is given to high quality illustrations, which are indispensable for a better understanding of anatomical problems. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy is a journal written by anatomists for clinicians with a special interest in anatomy.