Accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
Last revised by Maulik S Patel on 27 Feb 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Melville P, Patel M, Sheikh Y, et al. Accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 Mar 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-63968
Permalink:
rID:
63968
Article created:
28 Oct 2018,
Phillip Melville
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Phillip Melville had no recorded disclosures.
View Phillip Melville's current disclosures
Last revised:
27 Feb 2022,
Maulik S Patel
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Maulik S Patel had no recorded disclosures.
View Maulik S Patel's current disclosures
Revisions:
8 times, by
6 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Flexor digitorum accessorius longus muscle
- Flexor digitorum accessorius longus muscles
The accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle is an accessory muscle in the deep posterior compartment of the leg with a reported prevalence of 6-8%. Unilateral muscles are more common although bilateral cases have been reported.
On this page:
Article:
Images:
Images:
Summary
- origin: variable; either the medial margin of the tibia and deep posterior compartment fascia; or the fibula 1,3
- insertion: variable; either the quadratus plantae muscle, tendon of flexor digitorum longus muscle or both 1,3
Gross anatomy
The accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle arises from the medial margin of the tibia and the deep posterior compartment fascia or from the fibula. Its insertion may occur into the quadratus plantae muscle, tendon of flexor digitorum longus muscle or both.
Related pathology
- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle may compress the neurovascular bundle within the tarsal tunnel and cause tarsal tunnel syndrome 1,3
- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle has also been reported to contribute to the development of flexor hallucis longus muscle tenosynovitis 4
References
- 1. Peterson DA, Stinson W, Lairmore JR. The long accessory flexor muscle: an anatomical study. (1995) Foot & ankle international. 16 (10): 637-40. doi:10.1177/107110079501601010 - Pubmed
- 2. Cheung YY, Rosenberg ZS, Colon E, Jahss M. MR imaging of flexor digitorum accessorius longus. (1999) Skeletal radiology. 28 (3): 130-7. Pubmed
- 3. Gümüşalan Y & Kalaycioğlu A. Bilateral Accessory Flexor Digitorum Longus Muscle in Man. Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger. 2000;182(6):573-6. doi:10.1016/s0940-9602(00)80107-7
- 4. Eberle CF, Moran B, Gleason T. The accessory flexor digitorum longus as a cause of Flexor Hallucis Syndrome. (2002) Foot & ankle international. 23 (1): 51-5. doi:10.1177/107110070202300110 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
- joints of the lower limb
-
hip joint
- ligaments
- muscles
- additional structures
- hip joint capsule
- zona orbicularis
- iliotibial band
-
hip bursae
- anterior
- iliopsoas bursa (iliopectineal bursa)
- lateral
- subgluteal bursae
- greater trochanteric bursa (subgluteus maximus bursa)
- subgluteus medius bursa
- subgluteus minimus bursa
- gluteofemoral bursa
- subgluteal bursae
- postero-inferior
- anterior
- ossification centres
-
knee joint
- ligaments
- anterior cruciate ligament
- posterior cruciate ligament
- medial collateral ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- meniscofemoral ligament (mnemonic)
-
posterolateral ligamentous complex
- arcuate ligament
- patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon
- anterolateral ligament
- posterior oblique ligament
- oblique popliteal ligament
- medial patellofemoral ligament
- additional structures
- extensor mechanism of the knee
- groove for the popliteus tendon
- knee bursae
- anterior bursae
- medial bursae
- lateral bursae
- posterior bursae
- knee capsule
- lateral patellar retinaculum
- medial patellar retinaculum
- menisci
- pes anserinus (mnemonic)
- ossification centres
- ligaments
- tibiofibular joints
-
ankle joint
- regional anatomy
- medial ankle
- lateral ankle
- anterior ankle
- ligaments
- medial collateral (deltoid) ligament
- lateral collateral ligament
- additional structures
- ankle bursae
- ossification centres of the ankle
- variants
- regional anatomy
- foot joints
- subtalar joint
- mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint
-
tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint
- ligaments
- intermetatarsal joint
- metatarsophalangeal joint
- interphalangeal joint
- ossification centres
-
hip joint
- spaces of the lower limb
-
muscles of the lower limb
- muscles of the pelvic group
- muscles of the thigh
- muscles of the leg
- anterior compartment of the leg
- posterior compartments of the leg
- lateral compartment of the leg
- muscles of the foot
- dorsal muscles
- plantar muscles
- 1st layer
- 2nd layer
- 3rd layer
- 4th layer
- accessory muscles of the lower limb
- accessory gluteal muscles
-
accessory muscles of the ankle
- accessory peroneal muscles
- accessory flexor digitorum longus muscle
- accessory soleus muscle
- peroneocalcaneus internus muscle
- tibiocalcaneus internus muscle
- extensor hallucis capsularis tendon
- anterior fibulocalcaneus muscle
- accessory extensor digiti secundus muscle
- tibioastragalus anticus of Gruber muscle
- vascular supply of the lower limb
- arterial supply of the lower limb
- venous drainage of the lower limb
- innervation of the lower limb
- lymphatic system of the lower limb
- lymphatic pathways
- anteromedial group
- anterolateral group
- posteromedial group
- posterolateral group
- lower limb lymph nodes
- lymphatic pathways