A Literature Review of the Morphological Variability in the Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot: Traps Awaiting Clinicians during Ultrasound

Abstract

Purpose: Like other muscular compartments of the human body, the intrinsic muscles of the foot present considerable morphological variability. The aim of this review was to present variations that can potentially cause problems during surgery but might be detected during an ultrasound examination. Materials and methods: PubMed was searched for relevant articles. The identified papers were listed, and citation tracking was performed. Results: Even though lower limb structure is well studied, the variations associated with the intrinsic muscles of the foot and their related ultrasound examination are not. Conclusions: The muscles and tendons of the foot demonstrate similar degrees of variance as other regions of the human body; however, this subject is not as widely covered in the literature. Further ultrasound studies are needed to build awareness of morphological variability in this region, as the findings could prevent misdiagnosis.

Keywords: anatomical variations; imaging study; intrinsic muscles of the foot; morphological variability; ultrasound; ultrasound traps.

Figure 1

Schematic summary of the method used during preparation of the presented review of the literature.

Figure 2

Dorsal muscles of the foot including the EHB extensor hallucis brevis muscle and the EDB extensor digitorum brevis muscle.

Figure 3

Medial plantar muscles including the AH abductor hallucis muscle, the AdH adductor hallucis muscle, and the FHB flexor hallucis brevis muscle.

Figure 4

Morphological variation in the abductor hallucis muscle. AH, abductor hallucis muscle; Sb, medial sesamoid bone.

Figure 5

Central plantar muscles of the foot including the QP quadratus plantae muscle, the LM lumbrical muscles, and the PIM plantar interossei muscles.

Figure 6

Morphological variation of the flexor digitorum brevis muscle and FDB flexor digitorum brevis muscle.

Figure 7

Lateral plantar muscles including the ADM abductor digiti minimi muscle, the FDMB flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle, and the ODM opponens digiti minimi muscle.

Figure 8

Morphological variation of the abductor digiti minimi muscle and AOMD abductor osi metatarsi digit minimi.