title: An additional radial wrist extensor and its clinical significance.
abstract: The knowledge of anatomical variations in the antebrachial and dorsal regions of the arm and hand are useful in hand surgery. The extensor carpi radialis intermedius and extensor carpi radialis accessorius are two classic variants described for the radial wrist extensors, in the antebrachial region. We report an additional extensor carpi radialis muscle taking origin from the common extensor origin, between the extensor carpi radialis longus and extensor digitorum communis. The tendon of the variant muscle divides below the abductor pollicis longus and becomes attached to the base of the second and third metacarpal bone. Due to its considerable size and independent origin from the lateral epicondyle, we suggest the present variation should be named extensor carpi radialis tertius. The clinical significance of the present variation is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Centre for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College, Bejai, Mangalore 575004, Karnataka, India. ranjanbhatana@gmail.com
authors.forename: Soubhagya R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Madhan Kumar
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.forename: Latha V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: Anu Vinod
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ranade
authors.forename: Rajalakshmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Lakshmi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014953:Wrist / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology*