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. 2021 Feb 25;11(1):4550.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84186-w.

Impact of plantaris ligamentous tendon

Łukasz Olewnik  1 , Piotr Karauda  2 , Bartosz Gonera  3 , Konrad Kurtys  3 , R Shane Tubbs  4   5   6 , Friedrich Paulsen  7   8 , Rafał Szymański  9 , Michał Polguj  2
Affiliations

Impact of plantaris ligamentous tendon

Łukasz Olewnik et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

There are countless morphological variations among the muscles, tendons, ligaments, arteries, veins and nerves of the human body, many of which remain undescribed. Anatomical structures are also subject to evolution, many disappearing and others continually emerging. The main goal of this pilot study was to describe a previously undetected anatomical structure, the plantaris ligamentous tendon, and to determine its frequency and histology. Twenty-two lower limbs from 11 adult cadavers (11 left, and 11 right) fixed in 10% formalin were examined. The mean age of the cadavers at death was 60.1 years (range 38-85). The group comprised six women and five men from a Central European population. All anatomical dissections of the leg and foot area accorded with the pre-established protocol. Among the 22 lower limbs, the PLT was present in 16 (72.7%) and absent in six (27.3%). It originated as a strong fan-shaped ligamentous tendon from the superior part of the plantaris muscle, the posterior surface of the femur and the lateral aspect of the knee joint capsule. It inserted to the ilio-tibial band. Histologically, a tendon and ligament were observed extending parallel to each other. A new anatomical structure has been found, for which the name plantaris ligamentous tendon is proposed. It occurs around the popliteal region between the plantaris muscle, the posterior surface of the femur, and the ilio-tibial band.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Plantaris ligamentous tendon. PLT plantaris ligamentous tendon; PSF posterior surface of the femur; C capsule of the knee joint; PM plantaris muscle; PPM popliteus muscle. White arrowheads show the attachment of the plantaris muscle to the capsule of the knee joint.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proximal attachment of the plantaris ligamentous tendon. PLT plantaris ligamentous tendon. Dotted green lines show attachment to posterior surface of the femur. Dotted turquoise lines show attachment to the capsule of the knee joint, while dotted blue lines show attachment to the plantaris muscle.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histological examination of the plantaris ligamentous tendon. (a) 400 × magnification—tendon; (b) 400 × magnification—ligament.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Type of origin of the plantaris muscle. (a,b) PM accessory band of the plantaris muscle. PM plantaris muscle; ITB iliotibial band.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Histological examination of the accessory band of the plantaris muscle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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