RESUMO
Introduction: Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) and Flexor Digitorum Longus (FDL) are long flexors of the toes, oftenwith the interconnecting tendinous slips at various points. These interconnecting slips hold great significance inreconstruction surgeries of ankle and foot such as chronic Achilles tendon rupture, posterior tibial tendondysfunction (PTTD) and peroneal tendon rupture. In view of the above this study was aimed to find out varioustypes of connections between tendons of FHL & FDL.Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy ACSR GovernmentMedical College, Nellore, conducted in a total of 34 lower limbs. Flexor digitorum brevis and abductor hallucismuscles were reflected distally after the removal of the skin, superficial fascia and plantar aponeurosis toexpose FHL and FDL tendons which were examined for the interconnections. Specimens with interconnectionswere photographed and documented.Result: Out of 34 samples, 17 were right sided and 17 were of left sided. Mean foot length was 22.4 ± 1.9 cm. Threetypes of connections i.e. type 1, 4 & 5 were documented at 17 (50%), 16 (47.1%) and 1 (2.9%) type 5 respectively.Type 1 tendinous connections were further classified into 3 sub types i.e. type 1A were 10 (58.8%), type 1B were5(29.4%) and type C were of 2(11.8%).Conclusion: This study finds maximum distribution of type1 interconnections followed by type 4 and sub type 1Aamong type 1. This study also reports for the first time a common origin of 1st lumbrical from distal part oftendinous slip as well as from 1st digital slip of FDL. These interconnections provide stable base and enhancedpropulsion by toes and also act as natural tenodesis