LAUSR

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Radhika P.M, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy M. S. Ramaiah Medical College, MSRIT Post, Bangalore, 560054, India. Phone: 9035044023 E-Mail: [email protected] Introduction: Muscular variations are comparatively less when compared to vascular variations. Biceps brachii is a muscle of the flexor compartment of the arm. It has two heads, short head and long head. The Biceps brachii muscle is known to show variations in the number of heads. The most common variation is presence of third head, but up to seven heads have been reported. Aim: To study the incidence of accessory heads of biceps brachii in a South Indian population Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 50 upper limbs of 25 adult formalin fixed cadavers in the Department of Anatomy, M.S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore. The presence of accessory heads, their origins, insertions and their innervations were recorded. Result: Accessory heads of the biceps brachii muscle were found in 5 upper limbs. The supernumerary heads joined with the other two heads to form a common tendon which was inserted into the tuberosity of the radius and bicipital aponeurosis. In the present study the incidence of accessory heads of biceps brachii was 10 %. Conclusion: Accessory heads of the biceps brachii muscle have been one of the causes of neurovascular compression, leading to erroneous interpretations during surgical procedures. Knowledge of these extra heads is important in treating injuries of the muscle and in tendon reconstruction surgeries.