A three-headed plantaris muscle: evidence that the plantaris is not a vestigial muscle?

The plantaris muscle (PM) is typically described as small, short and fusiform. Together with the gastrocnemius (GM) and soleus (SM) muscles, it belongs to the superficial posterior compartment of the lower limb [22‐24]. In most cases, the PM originates from the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and the knee joint capsule [15]. From this origin, the short muscle belly develops into a long, thin tendon, which usually runs in the “space” between the GM and the SM, inserting on to the medial calcaneus and adjacent fibrous tissues [7, 11, 22, 23, 31].

Morphological variations have been described more often in the distal attachment than the proximal attachment; however, both are characterized by frequent variation [7, 9, 11, 13, 17, 22, 23, 25].

The PM can be absent [10, 22, 23, 28], double [26] or bifurcated [14, 30], or it can follow an unusual course in relation to the neuromuscular bundle [24]. Therefore, it could be the currently most “spectacular” muscle, embroiled in controversy as to whether it is a vestigial muscle or one that is just developing?

The present case report describes a very rare example of a three-headed PM, and reveals a new variant of the course of the PM tendon relative to the Achilles tendon.

The scientific community is very much divided by opinions about whether the PM is a residual or a developing muscle. Some authors believe because the PM is absent in 7–20% of the population, it must be a vestigial muscle [1, 7, 10, 17, 26‐28]. However, it is possible that the three-headed PM described in the present report could simply be in the process of development. Unilateral and double PMs have been described previously [14, 26]. For example, Upasna and Kumar [33] describe a rare case in which the PM had a bicipital origin on both sides, the first slip arising from the lower part of the lateral supracondylar line and the second from the posterior surface of the lateral condyle of the femur. A similar case was described by Soni et al. [29]; however, unlike the previous case, no fibers merging the lateral head of the GM were observed. Kwinter et al. [14] and Rana et al. [26] both described a double PM; however, the former identified it only on the right lower limb, while the latter found it on both sides. In addition, Olewnik et al. [21] reported a double PM: the main PM originated on the lateral condyle, knee joint capsule and iliotibial band, and the accessory PM on the iliotibial band; the distal attachment showed fusion with the oblique popliteal ligament and connected with the direct arms of the semimembranosus tendon [21].

In contrast, Srimani et al. [30] described a bifurcated PM: one head (lateral) was thicker and arose from the lower part of the lateral supracondylar line deep to the lateral head of the GM, while the other (medial) was smaller and originated from the lower and medial aspect of the oblique popliteal ligament deep to the medial head of the GM. Olewnik et al. [21] also described a bifurcated PM. In this case, the lateral head of the PM originated from the lateral head of the GM, and the medial head from the knee joint capsule under the lateral head of the GM. The common tendon of the PM passed deep to both the GM and SM heads [21]. Kalniev et al. [12] observed an interesting case, an additional PM originating from the SM. Testut [32] and Le Double [4] speculated on the correlation between accessory SM and PM variability. Testut [32] thought the accessory SM as a variety of PM, but Le Double [4] refuted this view. Le Double described that additional SM can occur regardless of the morphological variability of PM [4]. Additional SM were described by several authors [5, 6, 8, 16], but none of them have already described the correlation between PM and SM.

The present case report is the first description of a three-headed PM; the first head originated on the posterior femoral surface and on the medial side of the lateral femoral condyle, the second on the lateral femoral condyle and from the lateral head of the GM, and the third from the lateral head of the GM. The three muscle bellies then united to form a common tendon and inserted on to the calcaneal tuberosity on the medial side of the calcaneal tendon.

It is unclear whether the wide variability of the PM, presenting in bifurcated, double and even three-headed forms, suggests that the muscle is just developing or forming. Although such variability indicates that an extra muscle is likely to be formed sometime in the future, the nature of this development for the fibularis tertius remains unclear [18]. From a phylogenetic perspective, it has been proposed that the PM has regressed from being a primitive flexor of the toes into a vestigial element [3]; however, the frequency of different PM variants suggests that this is not necessarily the case.

Previous studies on the morphological variability of the proximal attachment have led to the proposal of a new sixfold classification of PM origin [21]. The three-headed PM described herein perfectly matches the Type VI class, which includes all rare PM origin types.

Earlier morphometric measurements focused on muscle belly length, which ranged from 40 to 100 mm [1, 2, 7]. However, Olewnik et al. [21] measured the morphometric measurements of the muscle belly of each type of PM origin and found significant statistical differences between types.

The course of the plantaris tendon can be classified into two variants (A–B), A being the more common [22, 23]. In variant A, the tendon runs from the space between the GM and SM to the medial part of the leg; it is located on the medial side of the calcaneal tendon. In variant B, the initial course resembles that of variant A; however, upon leaving the space between the GM and SM, it turns towards the medial crural region and runs directly anterior to the calcaneal tendon [22, 23]. The present case follows a different course: the PM tendon is present on the medial side of the SM and runs medial to the GM and SM to the medial crural region rather than in the “space” between them. We, therefore, propose that the existing classification of variants of the PM tendon should be extended to include “Variant C—rare cases”. Rare tendon variants should be classed in this category and their relationship with the distal attachment checked.

The plantaris muscle appears not to be a vestigial muscle but a developing one; nevertheless, knowledge of its potential morphological variability is essential for all clinicians as both its proximal and distal attachment, and the course of the PM tendon, can be implicated in a number of conditions. The classification of the plantaris muscle tendon should be extended to include “variant C”, to comprise only rare types.