Morphological and Morphometric Study of Psoas Minor Muscle and Its Clinical Importance: A Cadaveric Study

Psoas minor, which is present anterior to the psoas major in a variable proportion of the population. The study aimed to examine the psoas minor, a vestigial muscle in the posterior abdominal wall, in terms of its presence, morphology, variations, and measurements within a western Maharashtra population using 41 formalin-fixed cadavers. Results showed that the psoas minor was present in 48.78% of the cadavers, with equal occurrence between male and female subjects. No variations in the muscle's proximal and distal attachments were identified, except for a unique “double-headed” psoas minor found in one specimen. The mean length and maximum width of the muscle belly were 7.29 ± 0.129 cm and 1.45 ± 0.60 cm, respectively, on the right side, and 7.08 ± 0.147 cm and 1.33 ± 0.148 cm on the left side. For the tendon, the mean length and maximum width were 16.87 ± 0.302 cm and 0.92 ± 0.08 cm on the right, and 17.10 ± 0.35 cm and 0.80 ± 0.087 cm on the left. The findings suggest that the presence or absence of the psoas minor is important for various medical professionals, including anatomists, clinicians, radiologists, sports medicine specialists, and physiotherapists. The prevalence of this muscle varies by race, but not by gender. Additionally, no connection was found between the absence of the psoas minor and the absence of other vestigial muscles. This study provides valuable insights into the characteristics of the psoas minor in a specific population.