Does the articularis cubiti muscle really exist? Anatomical, histological, and magnetic resonance imaging study with a narrative review of literature

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11130%2F24%3A10466547" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11130/24:10466547 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/44555601:13450/23:43898659 RIV/00216208:11150/24:10466547 RIV/71226401:_____/24:N0100906

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=e0fF-GPonD" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=e0fF-GPonD</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joa.13943" target="_blank" >10.1111/joa.13943</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Does the articularis cubiti muscle really exist? Anatomical, histological, and magnetic resonance imaging study with a narrative review of literature

Original language description

Although the term articularis cubiti muscle is incorporated in the official anatomical nomenclature, only sparse data about its appearance are available. It is usually described as few fibres originating from the medial head of the triceps brachii muscle and inserting to the capsule of the elbow joint. However, the most recent observations regarding the morphological relations in the posterior elbow region point towards the absence of a well-defined muscle. Therefore, this study was designed to verify the existence of the articularis cubiti muscle in question and to compile more data on the topographical features of the subtricipital area near the posterior aspect of the elbow. To address these questions, 20 embalmed upper limbs were dissected, and seven samples were collected for histological analysis. The laboratory findings were then correlated with 20 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the elbow. Consequently, a narrative review of literature was performed to gain more information on the discussed muscle in a historical context. Upon the anatomical dissection, muscular fibres running from the posterior aspect of the shaft of the humerus to the elbow joint capsule and olecranon were identified in 100% of cases. Histologically, the connection with the joint capsule was provided via winding bands of connective tissue. On MRIs, the muscular fibres resembled a well-demarcated thin muscle located underneath the medial head of the triceps brachii muscle. Combined with the review of literature, we concluded that the constant articularis cubiti muscle originates from the posterior shaft of the humerus and attaches indirectly to the posterior aspect of the elbow joint capsule and directly to the superior portion of the olecranon. The obtained results slightly differ from the modern description, but are in agreement with the original publication, which has become misinterpreted throughout time. Presumably, the misused description has led to questioning the existence of an independent muscle. Moreover, our findings attribute to the articularis cubiti muscle, a function in pulling on the posterior aspect of the elbow joint capsule to prevent its entrapment, and possibly also a minor role in extension of the forearm. The presented results should be taken into consideration when intervening with the posterior aspect of the elbow joint because the articularis cubiti muscle poses a consistently appearing landmark.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

30106 - Anatomy and morphology (plant science to be 1.6)

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Anatomy

ISSN

0021-8782

e-ISSN

1469-7580

Volume of the periodical

244

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

96-106

UT code for WoS article

001046565300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85167714331