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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2014; 47(03): 453-455
DOI: 10.4103/0970-0358.146668
Case Report
Association of Plastic Surgeons of India

Variation of the latissimus dorsi

Ishani P Shah
1   Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3   Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
,
Amit Yadav
2   Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3   Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
,
Rujuta Mehta
2   Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
4   Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
5   Shushrusha Citizens’ Co-op Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
6   Jaslok Hospital and Research Center, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
,
Mukund Thatte
2   Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
5   Shushrusha Citizens’ Co-op Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
7   Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Bombay Hospital and Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
26 August 2019 (online)

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ABSTRACT

A typical muscle variation of latissimus dorsi - the axillary arch is represented by the muscular or fibromuscular slip detached from the anteroinferior border of the musculus latissimus dorsi passing over the axilla under the axillary fascia crossing the medial side of the brachial plexus to continue as a septum intermusculare mediale brachii distally to the medial epicondyle of humerus. The full extent of the muscle is rarely present. Slips of muscle extend from the latissimus dorsi at the inferior angle of scapula to insert into pectoralis major (Langer), coracobrachilis, biceps or coracoid process forming what is described as a common variant - the muscular axillary arch. We report three cases of variants of latissimus dorsi, one of which has not been reported in the literature before.

KEY WORDS

Axillary arch - latissimus dorsi - shoulder muscle transfer - variant
 

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