Abstract
Purpose
To contribute to the documentation and consideration of the prevalence of the atlantomastoid muscle in humans.
Methods
Sixty formalin-fixed cadaveric sides were dissected for the presence of the atlantomastoid muscle (2 sides per donor). Laterality, origin, insertion, and other observable characteristics of the variant were recorded along with donor sex for comparative analyses.
Results
The atlantomastoid muscle was observed in nine sides (15%): two left side only, three right side only, and 2 bilaterally. The origin of the muscle was consistent from the transverse process of the atlas, lateral to both the insertion of obliquus capitis inferior and the origin of obliquus capitis superior. In one instance, the origin of atlantomastoid was continuous with the most superior tendinous slip of levator scapulae. The insertion of each atlantomastoid variant was the mastoid process, however, the precise location was variable.
Conclusion
The atlantomastoid muscle is a common accessory muscle of the suboccipital region; the muscle was present in 15% of the cadaveric sides dissected in this study. Despite the notable prevalence of atlantomastoid muscles, there is little current literature dedicated to its study. Here, we document the first new information related to the prevalence of atlantomastoid since 1964 and discuss the development and potential clinical significance of the muscle.
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Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase humankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude.
Funding
Funding for this study was provided by Queen’s University and University of Western States.
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Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
RA Lee—Project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. SC Pang—Project development, manuscript editing. WH Borman—Project development, data collection, manuscript editing. SO Herrin—Project development, data collection, manuscript editing. LSW Bale—Project development, data collection, manuscript writing.
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The authors have no competing interests to declare.
Ethical approval
This research was part of a study approved by the Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board at Queen’s University, and it was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board at University of Western States. The research was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.
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Lee, R., Pang, S.C., Borman, W.H. et al. A prevalence study of the atlantomastoid muscle. Surg Radiol Anat 44, 1349–1353 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03022-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03022-6