Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Study of the Third Head of Biceps Brachii Muscle in South Indian Population


Affiliations
1 Department of Anatomy, J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, India
2 Department of Forensic Medicine, SSIMS & RC, Davangere, Karnataka, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Biceps brachii muscle is a muscle of the flexor compartment of arm. It arises by two heads - a long head and a short head. In terms of number and morphology of its heads of origin, it is most one of the most variable muscles in the body. Most common variation being the presence of third head of biceps muscle, as present in our study. In this study 64 arms from 32 South Indian cadavers were studied, accessory head of biceps was found in 4 out of 64 arms studied.

The accessory (third) heads of the biceps muscle can cause compression of neurovascular structures of upper limbs. Usually the third head of biceps is an incidental finding during dissections and is rarely detected in clinical studies unless it is symptomatic. The presence of accessory head of biceps can cause various difficulties to surgeons in the surgical procedures of arm and may lead to iatrogenic injuries. Hence the knowledge of such type of variation is important for academic interests as well as for surgeons and physiotherapists.


Keywords

Third Head of Biceps, Accessory Head of Biceps, Variant of Biceps Muscle
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Williams PL, Bannister LH, Berry MM, et al eds., Gray’s Anatomy, the Anatomical basis of medicine and surgery, 38th edn, Edingburgh, ElBS Churchill Livingstone; 1995; 843.

  • Johnson D, Ellis H, Pectoral girdle and upper limb, gray’s Anatomy, 39th edn, Elsevier, Churchill livingstone, 2005; 853.

  • Rodriguez-Niedenfuhr M, Vazquez T, Choi D, Parbin I, Sanadu Supernumery humeral heads of biceps brachii muscle revisited. Clin Anat 2003: 16: 197-203.

  • Poudel PP, Bhattrai C, Study on the Supernumery heads of biceps brachii muscle in Nepaleese, Nepal Med Coll J 2009, 11 (2) 96-98.

  • Vijayabhaskar P., Baral P, Vaishya R, Shrestha R.N., Supernumery head of biceps brachii; A rare case in Nepaleese population, Kathmandu Univ, Med. Journal (2008) Vol. 6, No. 2, Issue 22, 225-227.

  • Bergman RA., Thompson SA. Afifi.A.K., Saadeh FA, Compendium of Human Anatomic Variation, 1st edn Baltimore; Urban and Schwarzenberg, 1988: 11.

  • Asvat R: Candler P, Sarmiento EE-High incidence of third head of biceps brachii in South African population J. Anat 1993; 182; 101-104.

  • Kopuz C, Squerak B; Ozbenli S - on the incidence of third head of biceps brachii in Turkish neonates and adults, Kaibogaku Zasshi 1999; 74; 301-305.

  • Rai R, Ranade AV, Prabhu LV, Pai M.M. Prabash -Third head of biceps brachii in an Indian Population Singapore Med J; 2007; 48 (10): 929-931.

  • Switter MG and Carmicheal SW-Bilateral three headed biceps brachii muscle. Anat Anz, 1980; 148; 346-349.


Abstract Views: 197

PDF Views: 0




  • Study of the Third Head of Biceps Brachii Muscle in South Indian Population

Abstract Views: 197  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

V. Ravi Kumar
Department of Anatomy, J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, India
A. M. Siri
Department of Anatomy, J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, India
H. V. Rajasekhar
Department of Anatomy, J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, India
Vijayakumar B. Jatti
Department of Forensic Medicine, SSIMS & RC, Davangere, Karnataka, India

Abstract


Biceps brachii muscle is a muscle of the flexor compartment of arm. It arises by two heads - a long head and a short head. In terms of number and morphology of its heads of origin, it is most one of the most variable muscles in the body. Most common variation being the presence of third head of biceps muscle, as present in our study. In this study 64 arms from 32 South Indian cadavers were studied, accessory head of biceps was found in 4 out of 64 arms studied.

The accessory (third) heads of the biceps muscle can cause compression of neurovascular structures of upper limbs. Usually the third head of biceps is an incidental finding during dissections and is rarely detected in clinical studies unless it is symptomatic. The presence of accessory head of biceps can cause various difficulties to surgeons in the surgical procedures of arm and may lead to iatrogenic injuries. Hence the knowledge of such type of variation is important for academic interests as well as for surgeons and physiotherapists.


Keywords


Third Head of Biceps, Accessory Head of Biceps, Variant of Biceps Muscle

References