Muscular variations of the neck: Accessory fascicle of the levator scapulae muscle.

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Tiznado, G.; Bucarey, S.; Hipp, J. & Olave, E.

Summary

The levator scapulae muscle has been described as a flat muscle composed by fascicles originating from the transverse processes of C1 through C4. However, anatomical variations of this muscle are described, including its vertebral fascicles arising in the head or ending in neighboring muscles to the usual insertion. During routine dissection of a formolized cadaver of a 75 year-old Chilean male individual, we observed on the left side, an accessory fascicle of levator scapulae muscle, which had its origin in the C5 vertebra and ended at the serratus anterior muscle fascia. On both sides of the levator scapulae muscle came from C1–C4 vertebrae. The accessory muscular fascicle originated from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of the fifth cervical vertebra, which runs medially and downward, parallel to the levator escapulae, and inserted to the serratus anterior muscle fascia, inferior to the insertion of the mentioned muscle, in the superior angle of the scapula. It is important to communicate anatomical variations to complement the knowledge of them, which may explain certain painful conditions in the cervico-scapular region.

KEY WORDS: Anatomy; Muscles; Levator scapulae muscle; Anatomical variation.

How to cite this article

TIZNADO, G.; BUCAREY, S.; HIPP, J.; & OLAVE, E. Variaciones musculares del cuello: fascículo accesorio del músculo elevador de la escápula. Int. J. Morphol., 33(2):436-439, 2015.