GASTROCNEMIUS - ACHILLES TENDON - AXIS: A HUMAN ANATOMICAL VARIATION

Abstract

Gastrocnemius muscle forms the belly of the calf. It arises by two heads. Each head is attached to either condyles of the femur by strong flat tendons and to the subjacent part of the capsule of the knee joint. Normally the upper third and part of the middle third is fleshy and then it becomes tendinous, uniting with the tendon of soleus, to form the tendo-achilles. The tendo-achilles is the thickest and strongest tendon in the human body measuring 15cm in length. It begins near the middle of the leg and gets attached to the posterior, mid level of the calcaneum. We are reporting new anatomical variations in this case apart from the previously documented ones. 1. Lateral and medial heads of Gastrocnemius are fleshy in its entire length. 2. Fleshy fibres of the lateral and medial heads are discrete and attach directly to the posterior aspect of the calcaneum. 3. Total absence of the achilles tendon. At the outset these findings have clinical relevance because it has been suggested that the absence of a well developed achilles tendon in the African apes would preclude them from effective running, both at high speeds and over extended distances. Bilateral achilles tendon vibration in the absence of vision has a major impact on postural orientation. Secondly the routine procedure of flap cover for the middle third soft tissue defects of the leg is the usage of soleus muscle flap. To add to the armamentarium of flap cover for middle third defects of the leg, gastrocnemius muscle flap is used as it was found to be fleshy throughout.