Duplication of palmaris longus muscle

The palmaris longus is a slender superficial flexor muscle of the forearm. It takes origin from the anterior surface of medical epicondyle in common with the other superficial flexor muscles. It converges to form a long tendon, which passes superficial to flexor retinaculum and then attached to the apex of palmar aponeurosis. Palmaris longus is innervated by median nerve (C7-8). It is a phylogenetically degenerate metacarpophalangeal joint flexor. During routine dissection study and teaching to undergraduate students, we found variation in the palmaris longus muscle in the right forearm in an adult male cadaver aged 60–70 years. Duplication of the palmaris longus muscle was noted. Morphological and clinical implications of the variation are discussed. © Int J Anat Var (IJAV). 2013; 6: 207–209.