Rare Anatomic Variation of the Levator Claviculae Muscle

Variations regarding cervical musculature have been well documented in the literature, including the presence of a levator claviculae muscle within the lateral neck. This case report presents an example of levator claviculae that was discovered during the prosection of a 98-year-old male anatomical donor. This accessory muscle was located in the left cervical region and originated from the posterior belly of the levator scapulae, traversed along the anterior border of the trapezius, and inserted onto the inferior clavicle. Branches of the cervical plexus were noted to innervate both the levator scapulae and the levator claviculae. This report reviews these cervical anatomical variations and highlights their clinical significance. By presenting this case, we aim to increase awareness of unusual anatomical variations, which may aid in reducing the potential for misdiagnosis or confusion among healthcare professionals.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-06-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.87022
Primary Topic
Shoulder and Clavicle Injuries
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Rare Anatomic Variation of the Levator Claviculae Muscle

Abby Cummings, William McMillan, Nicole L Geske, Nathaniel G Blanchard et al.
Cureus
Shoulder and Clavicle Injuries
article

Rare Anatomic Variation of the Levator Claviculae Muscle

Abby Cummings, William McMillan, Nicole L Geske, Nathaniel G Blanchard, Linda Bradley, Jenna Farnum, Tristan D Packard
article en

Abstract

Variations regarding cervical musculature have been well documented in the literature, including the presence of a levator claviculae muscle within the lateral neck. This case report presents an example of levator claviculae that was discovered during the prosection of a 98-year-old male anatomical donor. This accessory muscle was located in the left cervical region and originated from the posterior belly of the levator scapulae, traversed along the anterior border of the trapezius, and inserted onto the inferior clavicle. Branches of the cervical plexus were noted to innervate both the levator scapulae and the levator claviculae. This report reviews these cervical anatomical variations and highlights their clinical significance. By presenting this case, we aim to increase awareness of unusual anatomical variations, which may aid in reducing the potential for misdiagnosis or confusion among healthcare professionals.

CureusVol. 17(6)
Michigan State University (US)
Michigan State University, College of Engineering, Michigan State University
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 78%
Shoulder and Clavicle Injuries
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Rare Anatomic Variation of the Levator Claviculae Muscle — Abby Cummings, William McMillan, et al. · Cureus (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS