title: An unusual variant of the levator claviculae muscle encountered in exploration of the brachial plexus.
abstract: The levator claviculae muscle is a vestigal muscle which occurs in less than 2% of humans. The embryological origin of this muscle is controversial. We report a case in which an unusual variant of this muscle was encountered during exploratory surgery following a brachial plexus injury. The anatomical findings in this case suggest that this muscle may arise from either the sternocleidomastoid or trapezius muscles or from the primordial ventrolateral musculature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000601:surgery