Bilateral Absence of Superior Gemellus Muscle in Elderly Cadaver

Abstract

FERNANDES, R. M. P.; LAZZOLI, J. K.; MANAIA, J.H. M. & BABINSKI, M. A. Bilateral absence of superior gemellus muscle in elderly cadaver. Int. J. Morphol., 31(3):902-904, 2013. SUMMARY:The superior gemellus muscle (SGM) normally arises from the outer surface of the spine of the ischium, blends with the upper part of the tendon of the obturator internus, and is inserted with it into the medial surface of the greater trochanter. In this paper, we describe an anatomical variation in which the SGM is absent bilaterally. Therefore, as there are not many cases in literature, our attention has been drawn to the importance about absence of SGM, in order to improve anatomical and clinical knowledge about this finding.

High division of sciatic nerve associated with a double superior gemellus muscle

“…On the lower limb, the ventral mass is responsible for the origin of some of the lateral rotators of the thigh, such as the obturator internus, gemelli, and quadratus femoris muscles, although the dorsal mass is responsible for the origin of the piriformis and gluteus muscles (SCHOENWOLF, BLEYL, BRAUER et al, 2014) According to the literature, variations of the SGM are mainly its absence or duplication and it seems that the SGM is more prone to vary than the inferior. The SGM can also be fused with the piriformis or gluteus minimus muscles (FERNANDES, LAZZOLI, MANAIA et al, 2013;TUBBS, SHOJA and LOUKAS, 2016). Testut and Latarjet (1954) reports the absence of SGM in 8% of whites and 6% of blacks.…”

“…The superior gemellus muscle (SGM) originates at the sciatic spine and the lower border of the greater sciatic notch, and inserts itself on a combined tendon with the obturator internus and the inferior gemellus muscle on the superior margin of the greater trochanter (TESTUT and LATARJET, 1954;FERNANDES, LAZZOLI, MANAIA et al, 2013).…”

“…The SGM is innervated by a branch of the sacral plexus or from the obturator internus nerve and its blood supply comes from branches of the internal pudendal artery. It is a lateral rotador of the thigh (TESTUT and LATARJET, 1954;FERNANDES, LAZZOLI, MANAIA et al, 2013).…”