Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significance
BackgroundThe fibularis brevis muscle (FBM)is a key stabilizer of the lateral ankle, yet its anatomy exhibits a notable degree of variability. While often overshadowed by the fibularis longus, FBM and its tendon (FBT) play critical roles in foot eversion, proprioception, and surgical reconstruction....
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1647407/full |
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| author | Łukasz Olewnik Łukasz Olewnik Ingrid C. Landfald Ingrid C. Landfald Daria Domosławska Daria Domosławska Kacper Ruzik Kacper Ruzik George Triantafyllou George Triantafyllou Maria Piagkou Maria Piagkou Teresa Vázquez Teresa Vázquez |
| author_facet | Łukasz Olewnik Łukasz Olewnik Ingrid C. Landfald Ingrid C. Landfald Daria Domosławska Daria Domosławska Kacper Ruzik Kacper Ruzik George Triantafyllou George Triantafyllou Maria Piagkou Maria Piagkou Teresa Vázquez Teresa Vázquez |
| author_sort | Łukasz Olewnik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe fibularis brevis muscle (FBM)is a key stabilizer of the lateral ankle, yet its anatomy exhibits a notable degree of variability. While often overshadowed by the fibularis longus, FBM and its tendon (FBT) play critical roles in foot eversion, proprioception, and surgical reconstruction. However, inconsistent terminology and limited integrative studies have hindered comprehensive clinical understanding.MethodsThis review synthesizes data from developmental anatomy, fetal and adult cadaveric dissections, comparative morphology across vertebrates, and clinical imaging. Anatomical classifications of the FBT and fibularis digiti quinti (FDQ) were evaluated alongside their embryological origins, phylogenetic trends, imaging correlates, and surgical relevance.ResultsA unified classification of FBT (Types I–IV) and FDQ (Types 1–3) is proposed, reflecting morphological, developmental, and radiological patterns. The FBM muscle demonstrates modular variability that parallels phylogenetic adaptations from complete absence in certain cursorial mammals to hypertrophy in arboreal primates. Variant tendinous insertions and accessory fascicles may mimic pathology in MRI or complicate surgical dissection.ConclusionFB represents a morpho-evolutionary continuum rather than a static anatomical unit. Recognition of its variants through improved classification, imaging protocols, and evolutionary insight is essential for anatomists, radiologists, and surgeons. This integrative approach advances the clinical and biological understanding of lateral leg musculature. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-71bf6d1b1bfe47f696986c1fb1b9e5cb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-634X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-71bf6d1b1bfe47f696986c1fb1b9e5cb2025-08-20T04:01:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-08-011310.3389/fcell.2025.16474071647407Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significanceŁukasz Olewnik0Łukasz Olewnik1Ingrid C. Landfald2Ingrid C. Landfald3Daria Domosławska4Daria Domosławska5Kacper Ruzik6Kacper Ruzik7George Triantafyllou8George Triantafyllou9Maria Piagkou10Maria Piagkou11Teresa Vázquez12Teresa Vázquez13Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovia Academy in Płock, Płock, Poland“VARIANTIS” Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Płock, PolandDepartment of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovia Academy in Płock, Płock, Poland“VARIANTIS” Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Płock, PolandDepartment of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovia Academy in Płock, Płock, Poland“VARIANTIS” Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Płock, PolandDepartment of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovia Academy in Płock, Płock, Poland“VARIANTIS” Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Płock, Poland“VARIANTIS” Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Płock, PolandDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece“VARIANTIS” Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Płock, PolandDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece“VARIANTIS” Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mazovian Academy in Płock, Płock, PolandDonor Body Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainBackgroundThe fibularis brevis muscle (FBM)is a key stabilizer of the lateral ankle, yet its anatomy exhibits a notable degree of variability. While often overshadowed by the fibularis longus, FBM and its tendon (FBT) play critical roles in foot eversion, proprioception, and surgical reconstruction. However, inconsistent terminology and limited integrative studies have hindered comprehensive clinical understanding.MethodsThis review synthesizes data from developmental anatomy, fetal and adult cadaveric dissections, comparative morphology across vertebrates, and clinical imaging. Anatomical classifications of the FBT and fibularis digiti quinti (FDQ) were evaluated alongside their embryological origins, phylogenetic trends, imaging correlates, and surgical relevance.ResultsA unified classification of FBT (Types I–IV) and FDQ (Types 1–3) is proposed, reflecting morphological, developmental, and radiological patterns. The FBM muscle demonstrates modular variability that parallels phylogenetic adaptations from complete absence in certain cursorial mammals to hypertrophy in arboreal primates. Variant tendinous insertions and accessory fascicles may mimic pathology in MRI or complicate surgical dissection.ConclusionFB represents a morpho-evolutionary continuum rather than a static anatomical unit. Recognition of its variants through improved classification, imaging protocols, and evolutionary insight is essential for anatomists, radiologists, and surgeons. This integrative approach advances the clinical and biological understanding of lateral leg musculature.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1647407/fullfibularis brevisanatomical variationtendon insertionembryologyfibularis digiti quintimusculoskeletal imaging |
| spellingShingle | Łukasz Olewnik Łukasz Olewnik Ingrid C. Landfald Ingrid C. Landfald Daria Domosławska Daria Domosławska Kacper Ruzik Kacper Ruzik George Triantafyllou George Triantafyllou Maria Piagkou Maria Piagkou Teresa Vázquez Teresa Vázquez Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significance Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology fibularis brevis anatomical variation tendon insertion embryology fibularis digiti quinti musculoskeletal imaging |
| title | Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significance |
| title_full | Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significance |
| title_fullStr | Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significance |
| title_short | Comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle: morphological variants and their clinical significance |
| title_sort | comparative and developmental anatomy of the fibularis brevis muscle morphological variants and their clinical significance |
| topic | fibularis brevis anatomical variation tendon insertion embryology fibularis digiti quinti musculoskeletal imaging |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1647407/full |
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