BILATERAL VARIATIONS IN TENDONS OF DORSUM OF FOOT

Anterior or extensor muscles of foot comprises Peroneus tertius (PT), Extensor digitorum longus (EDL), Extensor hallucis longus (EHL) and Tibialis anterior (TA). Presence of PT in many of the primates and humans suggests terrestrial bipedalism. PT is a dorsi-flexor of ankle joint and a weak evertor of foot. TA is the most medial and superficial dorsiflexor. Standard text-books describe the course of tendon of TA as passing deep to inferior extensor retinaculum (IER). In the present study, absence of PT with a course of TA superficial to IER on one side with variant origin of PT from Extensor digitorum longus on the other side were observed in an adult female cadaver. Knowledge on variations in PT and TA are of clinical significance and academic importance to orthopedic surgeons, radiologists and anatomists.