J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Oct;26(10):1378-1381. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.10.1378.

The Co-existence of the Gastrocnemius Tertius and Accessory Soleus Muscles

• Yildirim F
• Sarikcioglu L
• Nakajima K

• KMID: 1785998
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.10.1378

Abstract

A bilateral gastrocnemius tertius muscle and a unilateral accessory soleus muscle were encountered during the routine educational dissection studies. The right gastrocnemius tertius muscle consisted of one belly, but the left one of two bellies. On the left side, the superficial belly of the gastrocnemius tertius muscle had its origin from an area just above the tendon of the plantaris muscle, the deep belly from the tendon of the plantaris muscle. The accessory soleus muscle originated from the posteromedial aspect of the tibia and soleal line of the tibia and inserted to the medial surface of the calcaneus. On the right side, the gastrocnemius tertius muscle had its origin from the lateral condyle of the femur, and inserted to the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. The co-existence of both gastrocnemius tertius and accessory soleus muscle has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported.

Keyword

Accessory Soleus; Gastrocnemius Tertius; Variation; Calcaneus; Co-existence

MeSH Terms

*Abnormalities, Multiple
Adult
Humans
Leg/*abnormalities
Male
Muscle, Skeletal/*abnormalities

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Photograph of the left side of the czase. (A) Arrangement of the superficial and deep heads of the GCT, (B) Insertion of the deep head of the GCT onto the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, (C) Accessory soleus muscle. AS, accessory soleus muscle; C, calcaneus; LH, lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle; MH, Medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle; P, plantaris muscle; SM, soleus muscle; TN, tibial nerve. *, superficial belly of the gastrocnemius tertius; +, deep belly of the gastrocnemius tertius.

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  Fig. 2 Appearance of the gastrocnemius tertius muscle in the right side of the case. LH, lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle; MH, Medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle; GCT, gastrocnemius tertius.

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