Musculus peroneus longus in foetal period.

BACKGROUND: The lateral compartment of the leg, due to its distal and concurrent superficial positioning, is a multiple trauma site. Detailed knowledge of compartimentum lateralis cruris (CLC) structure is crucial for physicians. Musculus peroneus longus (MPL) is located within the structures of the CLC most superficially. There is a lot of data on the morphology of the MPL but there is no publication analysing in detail its anatomy in the foetal period. The aim of the study was to determine the variability of metric and morphological parameters of MPL in a studied period of prenatal ontogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis included 207 human foetuses (101 males and 106 females) at calendar age from 113 to 222 days. The analysed material comes from the local anatomy collection. Foetuses were stored in typical preservation solutions. Access to the muscle was obtained on the basis of standard preparation techniques. The authors evaluated the metric parameters of the muscle showing the presence of variable dynamics of metric increments of the examined muscle in particular age classes. RESULTS: In the studied period of prenatal ontogenesis, MPLs of the foetuses increased by about 60% in the length and width dimension and by about 100% in the thickness dimension. The topography of the initial and final muscle attachment was also evaluated. Statistically significant dimorphic differences were found in some aspects of muscle attachment topography. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the place of the origin and insertion of MPL showed a relatively large variety of these features.

Topography of the common fibular nerve terminal division in human foetuses.

BACKGROUND: The progress of paediatric surgery and increasingly better diagnosis of foetal defects require detailed knowledge of human developmental anatomy. Precise knowledge of the anatomy of innervation of the lower extremities corresponds to this subject and is not only cognitive but also clinically important. The end of the common fibular nerve is superficially located in the area exposed to frequent injuries as well as in the area subject to possible surgical repair procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis was carried out on 200 human foetuses aged from the 113th day to 222nd day of foetal life. The study material is a part of local foetal collection. The study incorporated the following methods: anthropological, preparational and image acquisition which was acquired with the use of high-resolution digital camera. Statistical analysis was carried out with the use of STATISTICA package. RESULTS: Based on the research results the new typology of the examined nerve was determined. The head of the fibula was the criterion: (i) high division - above the head of the fibula (1%); (ii) intermediate division - at the height of the head of the fibula (34%); (iii) low division - below the head of the fibula (65%). The mathematical analysis did not reveal statistically significant bilateral and gender differences. Moreover the additional branch was observed in 30% of foetuses, regardless of age class. This branch occurred in 50% of cases in both sides of the foetus. This nerve was defined as the accessory fibular nerve (nervous fibularis/peroneus accessorius). CONCLUSIONS: The created unique typology of the terminal division of common fibular nerve is an important supplement to the anatomical knowledge and at the same time, due to the peripheral and superficial location of the described structures, it has a relatively high clinical significance.