A CASE REPORT ON AN ADDITIONAL MUSCLE SLIP OF FLEXOR CARPI ULNARIS WITH VARIANT ULNAR ARTERY AND ULNAR NERVE IN THE FOREARM.

During routine dissection, of the right upper limb of a 70 years old donated embalmed male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, K.J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India, we observed an additional muscle slip of flexor carpi ulnaris associated with variant ulnar artery and ulnar nerve in the forearm. The additional belly originated from the lower part of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle and crossed the ulnar nerve, the ulnar vessels and the median nerve. The additional belly merged with the flexor retinaculum and the tendon of palmaris longus muscle. The ulnar nerve divided into the terminal branches in the upper part of the forearm. However, the distribution of the terminal branches of ulnar nerve was normal in the palm. The ulnar artery runs superficial to the superficial flexor muscles of the forearm. The variations were unilateral and the left upper limb was normal. The photographs of the triple variations were taken for proper documentation. Clinical significance: The awareness of additional muscle slip of the flexor carpi ulnaris associated with variant ulnar artery and ulnar nerve in the forearm is clinically important for surgeons dealing with entrapment or compressive neuropathies, orthopaedicians operating on the fractures of the radius or ulna or both and anaesthetist performing pain management therapies on the upper limb. A lack of knowledge of such type of variations with different patterns might complicate surgical repair and may cause ineffective nerve blockade.