European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 18 - Number 3
Eur J Anat, 18 (3): 195-197 (2014)

Rare accessory slip of the deltoid muscle conjoined with teres minor

Patrick R. Fraser, Joseph Thomas, Geoffrey D. Guttmann and Armando A. Rosales

Department of Integrative Physiology and Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

ABSTRACT Routine dissection of a 69-year-old American Caucasian female revealed a unique accessory slip of the deltoid muscle which was conjoined with the proximal portion of teres minor. The variant muscle bundle was united with the distal portion of the deltoid, but deviated superomedially and fused with the origin of teres minor. This discovery possesses clinical relevance with respect to surgical repair of shoulder pathology or trauma. Shoulder injuries and their respective repairs are very common. Therefore, consideration of this variant is necessary for the correct diagnosis and treatment of massive trauma or other shoulder pathology that is refractory to standard treatments.

Keywords: Deltoid, Teres minor, Variant, Muscle, Shoulder pathology

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)