Case report of unusual insertion of the fibularis brevis muscle

Abstract

The fibularis brevis and fibularis longus muscles belong to the lateral compartment of the leg. The fibularis brevis is morphologically variable, especially in the number of tendons and place of insertion. Its type of insertion is correlated with the presence of a fibularis digiti quinti, which is also anatomically variable. We present a case study based on dissection of a seventy-three-year-old female cadaver with an unusual insertion of the fibularis brevis muscle. The tendon had three bands inserting into the fifth metatarsal bone. There was a coexisting fibularis digiti quinti, which was fused with the fibularis tertius muscle. Awareness of such anatomical variation could be useful during reconstructive surgery and planning rehabilitation protocols.