title: New insights into the origin of the lumbrical muscles of the foot: tendinous slip of the flexor hallucis longus muscle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to clarify the origins of the lumbricals of the foot toward a better understanding of its precise action in the gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lumbricals in the foot were investigated in 66 specimens of embalmed Korean adult cadavers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first lumbrical arose as two muscle bellies from both the tendon of the FDL and the tendinous slip of the FHL in 83.3 %, and as one muscle belly from the tendon of the FDL or the tendinous slip of the FHL in 16.7 %. These two muscle bellies subsequently merged to form the muscle belly of the first lumbrical. The second lumbrical arose from the tendinous slips of the FHL for the second and third toes as well as the tendon of the FDL in all specimens. The third lumbrical arose from the tendinous slips of the FHL for the third and fourth toes in 69.7 %, and the fourth lumbrical arose from the tendinous slip of the FHL for the fourth toe in 18.2 %. Some deep muscle fibers of the fourth lumbrical arose from the tendinous slip of the FHL for the second toe in 4.5 %, for the third toe in 28.8 %, and for the fourth toe in 15.2 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study constitute new anatomical knowledge regarding the origin of the lumbricals, and provide insight into their specific role in production of gait. These findings will be useful for various types of surgery, biomechanics research, and rehabilitation programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Room 502, Naegok-Dong 522, Gangneung, 210-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Room 502, Naegok-Dong 522, Gangneung, 210-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyoun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Room 502, Naegok-Dong 522, Gangneung, 210-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Room 502, Naegok-Dong 522, Gangneung, 210-701, South Korea. kslee@cku.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyu-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: Lumbrical muscle; Origin; Tendinous slip of flexor hallucis longus muscle; Tendon of flexor digitorum longus muscle