A unique double headed plantaris that could be a potential source of neurovascular entrapment: a case report

During dissection of an adult female cadaver, an unique variation of the plantaris muscle was noted in the right lower limb. The plantaris had two heads of origin. The lateral head was fleshy and the medial head was aponeurotic. The lateral head took origin from the lateral supracondylar line. The medial aponeurotic head took origin from the capsule of the knee joint, oblique popliteal ligament and the fascia covering popliteus muscle. The two heads joined each other behind the main neurovascular bundle and the narrow gap between these two heads was traversed by tibial nerve, popliteal vein and popliteal artery. The tendon of plantaris divided into medial and lateral slips. The medial slip merged with the anterior surface of the tendocalcaneus and the lateral slip merged with the deep fascia, lateral to the insertion of the tendocalcaneus.