Variant lumbrical musculature of the left hand: Clinico-anatomic elucidation

A rare variation of intrinsic and extrinsic hand muscles represented by a bi-ventered first lumbrical extending into the carpal tunnel combined with bilateral fifth superficial flexor digitorum tendon regression

A rare unilateral variation of the first left lumbrical muscle was discovered in a female Caucasian cadaver dissected during a first year anatomy course at the Paracelsus Medical University - Nuremberg, Germany. The muscle possessed two venters with the first originating near the medial epicondyle of the humerus together with the intramuscular tendon of the superficial flexor digitorum tendon, and the second presenting as a regular first lumbrical muscle with radial palmar origin from first tendon of the deep flexor digitorum muscle. Both muscle bellies were connected by a 1.42mm thick tendon that passed beneath the median nerve and ran through the carpal tunnel. The second belly was enlarged and entered the distal part of the carpal tunnel. Interestingly, the donor revealed further rare variations such as a bilateral regression of the fifth superficial flexor tendons to an obviously non functional connective tissue strand, lack of both palmaris longus muscles, a discoid lateral meniscus in the left knee, and reduction of the plantaris muscle to a fascia-like structure on the right leg. Lumbrical muscle variations extending into the carpal tunnel, especially those associated with auxiliary tendons, have significant clinical relevance due to their association with carpal tunnel syndrome.