Ashaolu J O, Oni-orisan O A, Ukwenya V O, Opabunmi O A, Ajao M S
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria,
Surg Radiol Anat. 2014 Dec;36(10):1101-3. doi: 10.1007/s00276-013-1248-4. Epub 2013 Dec 15.
The gastrocnemius muscle forms the belly of calf muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg. This paper reports a four-headed gastrocnemius (named quadriceps gastrocnemius) muscle as a new variant and when present can alter the anatomy and/or the boundaries of the popliteal fossa. The four heads are named as medial, intermedio-medial, intermedio-lateral and medial. The newly identified heads, intermedio-medial and intermedio-lateral heads form the inferior boundaries of the popliteal fossa. Clinical conditions like popliteal entrapment syndrome may arise because of distal fossa congestion created by the intermedio-medial and intermedio-lateral heads. This supernumerary heads may also be useful for grafting and they also provide bulkier mass for gastrocnemius proximal attachment. The knowledge of anatomical variants presented is useful to surgeons, prosectors and radiologists.
腓肠肌构成小腿后侧肌群的肌腹。本文报道了一种四头肌头的腓肠肌（命名为股四头肌腓肠肌）作为一种新的变异情况，当存在这种变异时，会改变腘窝的解剖结构和/或边界。这四个头分别命名为内侧头、中间内侧头、中间外侧头和外侧头。新发现的中间内侧头和中间外侧头形成了腘窝的下边界。诸如腘窝卡压综合征等临床情况可能由于中间内侧头和中间外侧头造成的远端窝充血而出现。这种多余的头对于移植可能也有用，并且它们还为腓肠肌近端附着提供了更厚实的肌肉块。所呈现的解剖变异知识对外科医生、解剖学家和放射科医生有用。
