A Study Of Soleus Muscle – Clinical and Embryological consideration.

Objectives – Soleus is a multipennate muscle of back of leg taking origin from tibia and fibula as a single belly. It inserts on calcaneum as Achilles tendon and acts as a plantar flexor of foot. Aim of the study was to find variations in origin,insertion ,nerve supply and number of muscle bellies of soleus Material and methods– 50 lower limbs were meticulously dissected to observe variations in soleus muscle Results  -  8 % limbs showed accessory head of soleus. 4 heads,3 heads and 2 heads of soleus were observed. Variations of tibial nerve while supplying the accessory heads were noted. Conclusion – Symptomatic cases with accessory soleus have presented in athletes. Due to sedentary lifestyle most of the cases are passing unnoticed.Cases of neurovascular entrapment and clubfoot deformity have required surgical intervention. Knowledge of variations of soleus will be of prime importance during diagnostic procedures. Key words – Accessory head of soleus, Tibial nerve entrapment, Achilles tendon, Supernumerary head of soleus and Soleus secundus.