Morphological Classification of the Plantaris Muscle Origin: A Cadaveric Study

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Abstract The plantaris muscle (PM), considered vestigial in humans, has clinical significance owing to its anatomical variations. This study examined the prevalence, origin types, and clinical relevance of the PM in the Korean population to aid clinical and surgical practices, particularly in posterior knee surgery. A total of 160 lower limbs (90 male, 70 female) were dissected using classical anatomical methods. The morphology of PM origin was classified, and its prevalence was evaluated. The PM was present in 146 lower limbs (91.25%). Three distinct origin types were observed: Type 1 (75%), originating from the knee joint capsule, the lateral condyle of the femur (LFC), and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (lhGM), with fibers blending into the lhGM tendon; Type 2 (19.29%), originating from the knee joint capsule and the LFC but not blending with the lhGM tendon; and Type 3 (5.71%), originating solely from the LFC and the knee joint capsule, without any attachment to or connection with the lhGM. The average PM muscle belly length and width were 9.56 ± 1.71 cm, and 1.80 ± 0.64 cm, respectively. The PM shows morphological variability according to its origin attachment types. These findings provide valuable baseline data for understanding the anatomy of the PM, which can assist surgeons in diagnosing and treating conditions associated with posterior knee pain.
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Morphological Classification of the Plantaris Muscle Origin: A Cadaveric Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Morphological Classification of the Plantaris Muscle Origin: A Cadaveric Study Hyemin Lee, Yijin Heo, Dasom Kim, Seung-jun Hwang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6103798/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 04 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The plantaris muscle (PM), considered vestigial in humans, has clinical significance owing to its anatomical variations. This study examined the prevalence, origin types, and clinical relevance of the PM in the Korean population to aid clinical and surgical practices, particularly in posterior knee surgery. A total of 160 lower limbs (90 male, 70 female) were dissected using classical anatomical methods. The morphology of PM origin was classified, and its prevalence was evaluated. The PM was present in 146 lower limbs (91.25%). Three distinct origin types were observed: Type 1 (75%), originating from the knee joint capsule, the lateral condyle of the femur (LFC), and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (lhGM), with fibers blending into the lhGM tendon; Type 2 (19.29%), originating from the knee joint capsule and the LFC but not blending with the lhGM tendon; and Type 3 (5.71%), originating solely from the LFC and the knee joint capsule, without any attachment to or connection with the lhGM. The average PM muscle belly length and width were 9.56 ± 1.71 cm, and 1.80 ± 0.64 cm, respectively. The PM shows morphological variability according to its origin attachment types. These findings provide valuable baseline data for understanding the anatomy of the PM, which can assist surgeons in diagnosing and treating conditions associated with posterior knee pain. Health sciences/Anatomy Health sciences/Medical research anatomical variation cadaver plantaris muscle morphometry republic of Korea tennis leg Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Introduction The plantaris muscle (PM), characterized by a short muscle belly and a long tendon, is located in the posterior compartment of the leg. It typically originates from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the femur, above the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and the knee joint capsule. Several reports have documented its morphological variability, including variations in origin, insertion, course, and even absence (Nayak et al., 2010 ; Park et al., 2020 ; Spang et al., 2016 ; Srimani et al., 2014 ). Some studies have described the PM as having two or more muscle bellies or tendons (Heo et al., 2011; Kwinter et al., 2010 ; Rana et al., 2006 ; Srimani et al., 2014 ). Herzog et al .(2011) conducted a retrospective review of 1,000 consecutive MRI scans of the knee performed on patients presenting with acute or chronic knee symptoms. They found that 6.3% of patients with posterior knee pain had an accessory PM (Herzog et al., 2011). Previous studies have mainly focused on the morphological variations related to the insertion of the PM tendon. Aberrant PM insertion has been identified as a potential trigger for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy. In 2011, Alfredson et al. examined 73 consecutive cases of chronic painful mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and found that an enlarged PM tendon located close to the medial Achilles in 80% of cases, suggesting it as a common factor in patients with chronic painful mid-portion tendinosis (Alfredson et al., 2011). Owing to the highly variable morphology of the PM, there is a clinical need for an accurate understanding of its anatomical variability. However, compared to studies on PM insertion, research on the variability of the PM origin is limited. The PM is also prone to various injuries, with both the muscle belly and the tendon potentially rupturing at the musculotendinous junction. Such injuries may occur either in isolation or simultaneously with injuries to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, a condition referred to as “tennis leg,” initially reported as a clinical condition by Powell in 1883. This study aimed to characterize the morphological features of the PM origin and obtain anatomical and physical anthropologic baseline data of the PM. This information has clinical and surgical applications when planning procedures involving this region. Materials and Methods 1. Materials A total of 160 lower limb cadavers (90 male and 70 female) from the anatomy departments of four different medical schools in Korea were used in this study. All cadavers were donated to the universities and had been previously used for the education of medical students and clinical fellows. Lower limbs with surgical alterations in the dissection area were excluded from the study. The mean age at death was 80.79 ± 10.02 (range, 54–98) years. 2. Methods 2.1 Dissection Dissections were performed using traditional dissection techniques. The skin and muscle fascia from the distal half of the femur to the proximal two-thirds of the tibia were removed. The medial head of the gastrocnemius (mhGM) and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius (lhGM) were then distinguished, with extreme caution exercised to avoid damaging the PM, which is in close contact with the lhGM. After partially removing the mhGM, the lhGM was cut about 5 cm distal to its origin. When the proximal parts of the PM and soleus muscle (SM) were exposed, a clear view of the PM was achieved by removing unnecessary structures. The anatomical structures around the PM were then cleaned to facilitate observation. The presence or absence of the PM and its type of origin were recorded, and morphometric measurements of the PM were taken. 2.2 Measurements The maximal length and width of the PM muscle belly, along with the width of the myotendinous junction (MTJ), were measured using an electronic digital caliper (CD-15APX, Mitutoyo Corp., Japan). A tape measure with a capacity of up to 100.0 cm was used to determine the tibia length. To measure the tibia length, the practitioner palpated and marked the apexes of the medial tibia condyle and the medial malleolus, and then measured the distance between these two points. All measurements were performed by a single independent practitioner. 2.3 Statistical analysis Statistical analysis included morphometric measurements of 140 lower limbs, with 20 cases excluded owing to the absence or damage of the PM during dissection. The analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0, with intergroup comparisons made using an independent t -test. A p- value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Unless otherwise specified, results are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. Results 1. Frequency of occurrence of PM and its origin type classification Out of 160 lower limbs examined, the PM was present in 146 limbs (91.25%) and absent in 14 limbs (8.75%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of occurrence between genders ( P = 0.801, data was not shown) or body sides ( P = 0.800) (Table 1 ). Excluding cases of PM absence and six damaged PM origin specimens during dissection, we examined a total of 140 PM origins and classified them into three types. The classification was based on the exact location of the origin, the attachment of the proximal muscle belly, and the course of the muscle belly in the posterior knee compartment. Type 1 was the most frequent origin (75%), followed by Type 2 (19.29%) and Type 3 (5.71%). No significant differences were observed in the distribution of the origin types between genders ( P = 0.072 ) or body sides ( P = 0.314 ) ( Table 2 ) . 2. Morphological characteristics of the origin of the PM The three types of PM origins were classified based on the location of their proximal muscle belly attachment, which involved the posterior knee joint capsule, lateral condyle of the femur, and the lhGM. A photograph of a dissected cadaver is shown in ( FIGURE 1 a, 1 c, 1 e ) and a schematic drawing of three types PM origin is shown in ( FIGURE 1 b, 1 d, 1 f ). And the detailed descriptions of the PM origin types are as follows: 1) Type 1 The origin is located at the lateral supracondylar ridge of the femur, knee joint capsule, and lateral condyle of the femur (LFC), and includes an attachment to the lhGM. The PM originates from the proximal part of the LFC and blends with the lhGM tendon (FIGURE 1 a). The schematic diagram of the PM origin type 1 as followed FIGURE 1 2) Type 2 The origin is located at the knee joint capsule and the LFC, and includes an attachment to the lhGM. The PM originates from the popliteal surface of the LFC but does not blend with the lhGM tendon (FIGURE 1 c). 3) Type 3 The origin is located solely on the popliteal surface of the LFC and attaches to the knee joint capsule, without any connection to the lhGM (FIGURE 1 e). 3. Morphometric measurements of the PM The muscle belly length and width, MTJ width of the PM, and the tibia length were measured in 140 lower limbs. The ratio of the PM muscle belly length to tibia length represents the relative location of the MTJ in relation to tibial length. The mean measurements were as follows: muscle belly length, 9.56 ± 1.71 cm; muscle belly width, 1.80 ± 0.64 cm; MTJ width, 0.33 ± 0.12 cm; and tibia length, 30.78 ± 1.81 cm. The ratio of the PM muscle belly length to tibia length was 0.32 ± 0.06. No significant differences were observed in any measurements between body sides (Table 1 ). However, significant differences between genders were observed in all measurements, except for the ratio of PM muscle belly length to tibia length (Supplementary Information Table S1 ). 4. Comparisons of PM morphological measurements between origin types The muscle belly length, muscle belly width, and MTJ width of the PM were compared among all origin types. Boxplots were generated to illustrate the relationships between the origin types (FIGURE 2 ). The mean muscle belly length for PM origin Type 1 was 10.00 ± 1.42 cm, for Type 2 was 8.69 ± 1.53 cm, and for Type 3 was 7.08 ± 2.47 cm. The mean muscle belly width for PM origin Type 1 was 1.94 ± 0.64 cm, that for Type 2 was 1.45 ± 0.50 cm, and that for Type 3 was 1.29 ± 0.44 cm. The mean MTJ width for PM origin Type 1 was 0.35 ± 0.11 cm, that for Type 2 was 0.27 ± 0.12 cm, and that for Type 3 was 0.24 ± 0.09 cm. All comparisons, of muscle belly length, muscle belly width, and MTJ width among the different PM origin types showed statistically significant differences ( P < 0.001). In addition, comparisons by gender and body side for all PM origin types showed statistically significant results ( P < 0.001 ) (Supplementary Information Figure S1 and S2). Table 1 Classification and morphometric measurements of the plantaris muscle according to body side Features Left Right P -value Total Age 80.79 ± 10.02 160 Gender Male (n = 90), Female (n = 70) Type 1 56 (70%) 49 (61.25%) 105 (65.63%) 2 10 (12.50% ) 17 (21.25%) 0.800 27 (16.88%) 3 4 (5%) 4 (5%) 8 (5%) PM absence 8 (10%) 6 (7.50%) 14 (8.75%) BL 9.45 ± 1.74 9.71 ± 1.67 0.512 9.56 ± 1.71 BW 1.77 ± 0.57 1.81 ± 0.70 0.861 1.80 ± 0.64 MTJW 0.33 ± 0.12 0.33 ± 0.11 0.903 0.33 ± 0.12 TL 30.84 ± 1.84 30.75 ± 1.78 0.910 30.78 ± 1.81 BL/TL 0.31 ± 0.06 0.32 ± 0.05 0.553 0.32 ± 0.06 ** Null data due to, damage to the PM origin during dissection = 6 cases (2 left lower limbs and 4 right lower limbs, total = 4% of specimens) BL; muscle belly length, BW: muscle belly width, MTJW: myotendinous junction width, TL: tibia length Table 2 Classification of plantaris muscle origin types by gender and body side Type of origin Gender P - value Body side P - value Total Male Female Left Right 1 65 (82.28%) 40 (65.57%) 0.072 56 (84.29%) 49 (70%) 0.314 105 (75%) 2 11 (13.92%) 16 (26.23%) 10 (14.29%) 17 (24.29) 27 (19.29%) 3 3 (3.80%) 5 (8.20%) 4 (5.71%) 4 (5.71%) 8 (5.71%) Total 79 61 70 70 140 * * The total of 140 lower limbs represents the cases remaining after excluding 14 cases of PM absence and 6 cases of damaged PM origin during the examination of 160 lower limbs. Discussion Due to considerable difference of its presence frequency, there has been an ongoing debate about whether the PM is a vestigial muscle. In 2021, Gonera et al . conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the PM. The authors did not consider the PM to be a potential vestigial organ. They suggested if the PM were a vestigial organ, it should show a clear trend of decreasing throughout human evolutionary history. However, their analysis of the prevalence of the PM across three population groups—European, American, and Asian—did not reveal any definitive trend of increasing or decreasing frequency within these groups. Notably, studies conducted after 2000 in American and Asian populations reported a PM prevalence of over 90% in most cases. Consequently, the current data are deemed insufficient to conclusively determine whether the PM is a vestigial organ (Gonera et al,. 2021). Consistent with these findings, our study found that the prevalence of the PM among Koreans was 91.25%. The abnormal morphology of the PM has clinical significance, particularly as a potential cause of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) (Kwon et al,. 2018). Kwon et al . confirmed that anatomical abnormalities, such as an aberrant PM or an abnormal mhGM, could contribute to PAES. Their analysis of MRI and CT scans from 35 PAES-affected legs revealed that 26.9% of patients had an aberrant PM, located higher and more medially than the normal course of the PM. This structure can compress the popliteal artery during plantar flexion of the ankle, potentially leading to artery occlusion. These findings highlight the importance of considering the PM’s anatomical characteristics in both comparative anatomy and clinical research, particularly its muscle belly shape and origin. In our study, we examined 160 lower limbs of Koreans and identified 140 distinct PM origins, which were classified into three types. Among these, Type 1 and Type 2 were the most common. The classification criteria were based on whether the PM originated from the lhGM, the LFC, or the knee joint capsule. These types demonstrate a connection between the PM and the lhGM, which may suggest increased interaction between these two muscles. Notably, the Type 1 PM origin is attached to both the proximal part of the LFC and the knee joint capsule, with muscle fibers blending with the lhGM tendon. This structure may enhance stability and contribute to an increased range of motion during muscle contraction, allowing the PM to function more effectively in stabilizing posterior leg movements (Freeman et al., 2008 ). In contrast, Type 3 PM is attached only to the popliteal surface of the LFC and the knee joint capsule, without any connection to the lhGM. Several previous studies have categorized PM origin types using their own classification systems (Freeman et al., 2008 ; Nayak et al., 2010 ; Olewnik et al., 2018 ). The results of this study align with the classifications proposed by earlier researchers, showing notable similarities. In particular, the morphological characteristics and frequencies of PM origin types observed in Koreans closely resemble those reported by Nayak et al.’s study on the Indian population. When compared to the studies by Freeman et al . and Olewnik et al. , which focused on European populations, both Nayak et al .’s findings and those of this study reveal a significantly higher occurrence rate of PM origin Type 1. These results suggest the possibility of racial differences in PM origin types. In terms of specific characteristics, PM origin Type 2 (attached to the LFC, knee joint capsule, and lhGM) was consistently observed by all researchers, while PM origin Types 1 and 3 were reported in only some studies. Additionally, in our study, we did not observe rare cases of PM attachment to the iliotibial band, patella, or fibular collateral ligament, as reported in previous studies ( Table 3 ) . Examining the distribution of PM origin types revealed that the ranking of each type was consistent between males and females. However, the proportions of Type 2 and Type 3 origins were higher in females compared to males ( Table 2 ) . Additionally, measurements of PM muscle belly length, muscle belly width, MTJ width, and tibia length were all significantly greater in males. In contrast, the ratio of PM muscle belly length to tibia length which represents the relative position of the MTJ, did not differ between genders (Supplementary Information Table S1 ). From a physical anthropological perspective, gender differences in muscle development are influenced by various factors, including biomechanical demands and hormonal effects (James 2023 ). The greater muscle mass and size observed in males can be attributed to a higher level of testosterone, which promotes muscle hypertrophy. Additionally, male tend to have stronger tendons at muscle attachment points owing to their larger muscle mass and higher biomechanical demands. We propose that these factors contribute to stronger attachment of the PM origin and larger muscle belly size in males, which may explain the higher prevalence of Type 1 PM origin in males compared to females. Further biomechanical and physiological studies are recommended to investigate the underlying mechanisms behind these findings. To further analyze the relationship between PM morphological characteristics and their origin types, we compared the PM muscle belly length, muscle belly width, and MTJ thicknesses for each type. PM origin Type 1 exhibited a relatively longer muscle belly, greater muscle width, and thicker MTJ compared to other types. Type 2 origins had a smaller muscle belly and thinner MTJ compared to Type 1, while Type 3 showed the smallest muscle belly size and thinnest MTJ width among the three types ( FIGURE 2 ) . These differences suggest that Type 2 and Type 3 origins may be more vulnerable to complex injuries in the posterior leg. The MTJ is critical for force transmission and stabilization, making it a common site for injury, particularly in muscles spanning two joints, such as the GM and PM. Injuries to the MTJ in the posterior knee are clinically significant, as improper treatment can prolong recovery (Harwin and Richrdson 2016; Kwak et al,. 2006). Using the ratio of PM muscle belly length to tibia length, we identified the relative position of the MTJ. The ratio was found to be 0.32 ± 0.06, providing a reference point for the relative position of the MTJ in the proximal portion of the tibia. This metric could serve as a valuable reference for diagnosing posterior knee pain and planning surgical interventions. A limitation of our study is its focus on anatomical variations in the PM origin without including an investigation of the PM insertion. Nevertheless, our findings provide valuable anatomical and baseline data on the PM in Koreans and are expected to enhance the general understanding of the morphological characteristics of the PM. Additionally, the identification of the relative MTJ location based on tibial length could serve as a foundation for further clinical studies, particularly those addressing knee injuries and surgical treatments. Table 3 Comparison of plantaris muscle origin classifications across studies PM Origin attachment Freeman et al. (n = 46) Nayak et al. (n = 52) Olewnik et al. (n = 142) Present study (n = 160) Attached to lhGM and mixed with lhGM tendon, LFC, KN - 79.1% 40.4% 75.0% lhGM, LFC, KN, accessory muscle belly attached to the popliteal surface of the femur - - 8.7% - Attachment to lhGM and not mixed with lhGM, popliteal surface of the LFC, and KN 22.5% 6.3% 25.4% 19.3% LFC, KN 65.0% - 10.4% 5.7% LFC, KN, iliotibial band - - 6.4% - Narrow attachment to the LFC - - 8.7% - Fibrous extension of the PM to the patella 12.5% - - - lhGM, LFC, KN, fibular collateral ligament - 14.6% - - Prevalence of the PM 87% 92.3% 90.1% 91.25% lhGM; lateral head of the gastrocnemius, LFC: lateral condyle of the femur, KN; knee joint capsule Declarations Acknowledgements This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors sincerely thanks those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude. Author contributions Seung-Jun Hwang – project development, data collection and management, photographic documentation, data analysis and corresponding author Hyemin Lee – data collection, data analysis and manuscript writing Yijin Heo – data collection, data analysis, figure editing and manuscript editing Dasom Kim – data collection, data analysis and manuscript editing All authors have read and approved the manuscript. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Data availability The data can be made available as and when requires by the journal. The datasets used during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Corresponding author: Seung-Jun Hwang, e-mail: [email protected] Ethics declarations We obtained explicit consent from the next of kin, donors, and relevant institutions before using the cadavers in this study. All experimental protocols were approved by Cadaveric Dissection Review Committee, University of Ulsan. The study confirms that every effort was made to comply with all local and international ethical guidelines and laws regarding the use of human cadaveric donors in anatomical research. References Alfredson, H . Mid-portion Achilles tendinosis and the plantaris tendon. Br. J. Sports Med. 45:1023–1025 (2011) Bianchi, S, Sailly, M, Molini, L. Isolated tear of the plantaris tendon: ultrasound and MRI appearance. Skeletal radiology 40(7):891–895 (2011) Freeman, A. J., Jacobson, N. A., Fogg, Q. A. Anatomical variations of the plantaris muscle and a potential role in patellofemoral pain syndrome. Clinical anatomy 21(2):178–181 (2008) Goneraa B. et al. The plantaris muscle – Anatomical curiosity or a structure with important clinical value – A comprehensive review of the current literature. Annals of Anatomy . 235:151681. (2021) Harwin, J. R., Richardson, M. L. "Tennis leg": gastrocnemius injury is a far more common cause than plantaris rupture. Radiology case reports 12(1):120–123 (2016) Heo, Y., Lee, H. M., Hwang, S. J . Bicipital origin and the course of the plantaris muscle. Anat Cell Biol. 54(2):289–291 (2021) Herzog R. J . Accessory plantaris muscle: anatomy and prevalence. Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery 7(1):52–56 (2011) James L. Nuzzo. Narrative reviews of sex differences in muscle strength, endurance, activation, size, fiber type, and strength training participation rates, preferences, motivations, injuries and neuromuscular adaptations. J. of Strength Cond Res. 37(2):494-536 (2023) Kwak, H. S. et al. Diagnosis and follow-up US evaluation of ruptures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius (‘tennis leg’). Korean journal of radiology 7(3):193–198 (2006) Kwon Y J., Kwon T W., Gwon J G., Cho Y P., Hwang S J., Go K Y. Anatomical popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Annals of Surgical treatment and research. 5:262-269 (2018) Kwinter, D. M. et al. Unilateral Double Plantaris Muscle: A Rare Anatomical Variation. International Journal of Morphology 28(4):1097–1099 (2010) Nayak, S. R. et al Anatomy of plantaris muscle: a study in adult Indians. La Clinica terapeutica 161(3):249–252 (2010) Olewnik, Ł., Wysiadecki, G., Podgórski, M., Polguj, M., Topol, M. The plantaris muscle tendon and its relationship with the Achilles Tendinopathy. BioMed research international. 9623579 (2018) Olewnik, Ł.et al. Proposal for a new classification of plantaris muscle origin and its potential effect on the knee joint. Annals of anatomy 231:151506 (2020) Park, K. R., Cho, J., Choi, Y. J., et al . Complex Variations of Plantaris Muscle Origin, Course and Insertion: A Cadaveric Case Report. Anatomy & Biological Anthropology 2020;33(3):143–147 (2020) Peck, D., Buxton, D. F., Nitz, A. A comparison of spindle concentrations in large and small muscles acting in parallel combinations. Journal of morphology 180(3):243–252 (1984) Powell, R. W. Lawn Tennis leg. (The Lancet 2, 1883) Rana, K. K., Das, S., Verma, R. Double plantaris muscle: A cadaveric study with clinical importance. Int J Morphol 24(3):495-498 (2006) Spang, C., Alfredson, H., Docking, S. I., Masci, L., Andersson, G. The plantaris tendon: a narrative review focusing on anatomical features and clinical importance. The bone & joint journal 98(10):1312-1319 (2016) Srimani, P., Meyur, R., De Bose, A., Kundu, B., Sadhu, A . Unilateral variation of plantaris muscle: a case report. J Evol Med Dent Sci 3:618-622 (2014) Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files PlantarisScientificreportsSupplementarydata.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 04 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 09 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 08 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 24 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 16 Jun, 2025 Editor invited by journal 05 Mar, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 04 Mar, 2025 First submitted to journal 25 Feb, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6103798","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":424288332,"identity":"a79b357f-4e48-41e7-88b6-71a13c613eed","order_by":0,"name":"Hyemin Lee","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ulsan","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hyemin","middleName":"","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""},{"id":424288337,"identity":"cd514eb4-44e6-4164-a10b-dd5a5ad32353","order_by":1,"name":"Yijin Heo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ulsan","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yijin","middleName":"","lastName":"Heo","suffix":""},{"id":424288339,"identity":"1f50fce5-cdc5-4f0d-a5e4-189b8815aa65","order_by":2,"name":"Dasom Kim","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Korea University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dasom","middleName":"","lastName":"Kim","suffix":""},{"id":424288340,"identity":"a68820d7-8545-43e2-aa92-cc82eca004ef","order_by":3,"name":"Seung-jun Hwang","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA5klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFCCM2BSDs7nY2AjTosxnM9GWAsPmExsIFqLfOPZYxI/d9Sm9087/IDxR4VNYhsDW9oHfFoMDpxLk+w9czx3xu00A2aeM2kgLYdn4NXCcMbsBm/bsdyG2zkMzIxth4Fa2JvxO6zhjNnNv23H0uWBWhh//iNCC8OBM2a3edtqEgyAWhh4Gw6DHYZXh8GBM+a/ZdsOGG4E+uUwz7E04zZmtmT8DptxxtjwbVudvNzt5IcPf9TYyPaztxnj1cIgcQBEQpwCZjIw49fAwMDfACLrCCkbBaNgFIyCkQwApTZL6wrVWRUAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ulsan","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Seung-jun","middleName":"","lastName":"Hwang","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-02-25 09:38:49","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6103798/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6103798/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18762-9","type":"published","date":"2025-11-04T15:57:12+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":78241731,"identity":"084f72de-075c-4652-a828-bb442a61e403","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-11 09:06:24","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":3930924,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eClassification of PM origin types\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotographs of the posterior view of the knee showing the Type 1 origin of the PM (a) Type 2 origin (c), and Type 3 origin (e). Corresponding schematic drawings show Type 1 origin (b), Type 2 origin (d), and Type 3 origin (f).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePM; plantaris muscle, lhGM; lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, SM; soleus muscle\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"11.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6103798/v1/f3d3ca40caf40af989a938f4.png"},{"id":78241725,"identity":"41873388-46f1-4df1-8727-12abe88cf686","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-11 09:06:24","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":132181,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eRelationship between PM belly length (a), PM belly width (b), and PM MTJ width (c) across the three PM origin types. Statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups (\u003cem\u003ep \u0026lt; 0.001\u003c/em\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComparisons between two PM origin types: ns = not significant (\u003cem\u003ep\u0026gt;0.05\u003c/em\u003e, data not shown);\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*\u003cem\u003ep \u003c/em\u003e≤ 0.05, **\u003cem\u003e p \u003c/em\u003e≤0.01, ***\u003cem\u003e p \u003c/em\u003e≤0.001\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6103798/v1/56d8c62646b714a1073f3017.png"},{"id":95564096,"identity":"91e52dda-d81c-45dd-b528-f34b1f7d6cab","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-10 16:07:49","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":7112974,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6103798/v1/546a52bc-d6d5-4bbf-8b5f-0c00d7824658.pdf"},{"id":78241724,"identity":"d4755394-3805-4104-a898-2db26b7d4a31","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-11 09:06:24","extension":"docx","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":84585,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"PlantarisScientificreportsSupplementarydata.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6103798/v1/f7c282bd70facb39bb2d3bcc.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Morphological Classification of the Plantaris Muscle Origin: A Cadaveric Study","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe plantaris muscle (PM), characterized by a short muscle belly and a long tendon, is located in the posterior compartment of the leg. It typically originates from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the femur, above the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and the knee joint capsule. Several reports have documented its morphological variability, including variations in origin, insertion, course, and even absence (Nayak et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e; Park et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Spang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Srimani et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Some studies have described the PM as having two or more muscle bellies or tendons (Heo et al., 2011; Kwinter et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e; Rana et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e; Srimani et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eHerzog et al\u003c/em\u003e.(2011) conducted a retrospective review of 1,000 consecutive MRI scans of the knee performed on patients presenting with acute or chronic knee symptoms. They found that 6.3% of patients with posterior knee pain had an accessory PM (Herzog et al., 2011). Previous studies have mainly focused on the morphological variations related to the insertion of the PM tendon. Aberrant PM insertion has been identified as a potential trigger for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy. In 2011, \u003cem\u003eAlfredson et al.\u003c/em\u003e examined 73 consecutive cases of chronic painful mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and found that an enlarged PM tendon located close to the medial Achilles in 80% of cases, suggesting it as a common factor in patients with chronic painful mid-portion tendinosis (Alfredson et al., 2011).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOwing to the highly variable morphology of the PM, there is a clinical need for an accurate understanding of its anatomical variability. However, compared to studies on PM insertion, research on the variability of the PM origin is limited. The PM is also prone to various injuries, with both the muscle belly and the tendon potentially rupturing at the musculotendinous junction. Such injuries may occur either in isolation or simultaneously with injuries to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, a condition referred to as \u0026ldquo;tennis leg,\u0026rdquo; initially reported as a clinical condition by \u003cem\u003ePowell\u003c/em\u003e in 1883.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to characterize the morphological features of the PM origin and obtain anatomical and physical anthropologic baseline data of the PM. This information has clinical and surgical applications when planning procedures involving this region.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1. Materials\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 160 lower limb cadavers (90 male and 70 female) from the anatomy departments of four different medical schools in Korea were used in this study. All cadavers were donated to the universities and had been previously used for the education of medical students and clinical fellows. Lower limbs with surgical alterations in the dissection area were excluded from the study. The mean age at death was 80.79\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.02 (range, 54\u0026ndash;98) years.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2. Methods\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.1 Dissection\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDissections were performed using traditional dissection techniques. The skin and muscle fascia from the distal half of the femur to the proximal two-thirds of the tibia were removed. The medial head of the gastrocnemius (mhGM) and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius (lhGM) were then distinguished, with extreme caution exercised to avoid damaging the PM, which is in close contact with the lhGM. After partially removing the mhGM, the lhGM was cut about 5 cm distal to its origin. When the proximal parts of the PM and soleus muscle (SM) were exposed, a clear view of the PM was achieved by removing unnecessary structures. The anatomical structures around the PM were then cleaned to facilitate observation. The presence or absence of the PM and its type of origin were recorded, and morphometric measurements of the PM were taken.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.2 Measurements\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe maximal length and width of the PM muscle belly, along with the width of the myotendinous junction (MTJ), were measured using an electronic digital caliper (CD-15APX, Mitutoyo Corp., Japan). A tape measure with a capacity of up to 100.0 cm was used to determine the tibia length. To measure the tibia length, the practitioner palpated and marked the apexes of the medial tibia condyle and the medial malleolus, and then measured the distance between these two points. All measurements were performed by a single independent practitioner.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.3 Statistical analysis\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStatistical analysis included morphometric measurements of 140 lower limbs, with 20 cases excluded owing to the absence or damage of the PM during dissection. The analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0, with intergroup comparisons made using an independent \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-test. A \u003cem\u003ep-\u003c/em\u003evalue of \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Unless otherwise specified, results are presented as the mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard deviation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1. Frequency of occurrence of PM and its origin type classification\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOut of 160 lower limbs examined, the PM was present in 146 limbs (91.25%) and absent in 14 limbs (8.75%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of occurrence between genders (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.801, data was not shown) or body sides (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.800) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExcluding cases of PM absence and six damaged PM origin specimens during dissection, we examined a total of 140 PM origins and classified them into three types. The classification was based on the exact location of the origin, the attachment of the proximal muscle belly, and the course of the muscle belly in the posterior knee compartment. Type 1 was the most frequent origin (75%), followed by Type 2 (19.29%) and Type 3 (5.71%). No significant differences were observed in the distribution of the origin types between genders (\u003cem\u003eP\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.072\u003c/em\u003e) or body sides (\u003cem\u003eP\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.314\u003c/em\u003e) \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2. Morphological characteristics of the origin of the PM\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe three types of PM origins were classified based on the location of their proximal muscle belly attachment, which involved the posterior knee joint capsule, lateral condyle of the femur, and the lhGM. A photograph of a dissected cadaver is shown in \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003eFIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ea, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ec, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ee\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e and a schematic drawing of three types PM origin is shown in \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003eFIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003eb, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ed, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ef\u003cb\u003e).\u003c/b\u003e And the detailed descriptions of the PM origin types are as follows:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e1) Type 1\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe origin is located at the lateral supracondylar ridge of the femur, knee joint capsule, and lateral condyle of the femur (LFC), and includes an attachment to the lhGM. The PM originates from the proximal part of the LFC and blends with the lhGM tendon (FIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ea). The schematic diagram of the PM origin type 1 as followed FIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e2) Type 2\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe origin is located at the knee joint capsule and the LFC, and includes an attachment to the lhGM. The PM originates from the popliteal surface of the LFC but does not blend with the lhGM tendon (FIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ec).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e3) Type 3\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe origin is located solely on the popliteal surface of the LFC and attaches to the knee joint capsule, without any connection to the lhGM (FIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003ee).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3. Morphometric measurements of the PM\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe muscle belly length and width, MTJ width of the PM, and the tibia length were measured in 140 lower limbs. The ratio of the PM muscle belly length to tibia length represents the relative location of the MTJ in relation to tibial length. The mean measurements were as follows: muscle belly length, 9.56\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.71 cm; muscle belly width, 1.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.64 cm; MTJ width, 0.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12 cm; and tibia length, 30.78\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.81 cm. The ratio of the PM muscle belly length to tibia length was 0.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo significant differences were observed in any measurements between body sides (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). However, significant differences between genders were observed in all measurements, except for the ratio of PM muscle belly length to tibia length (Supplementary Information Table \u003cspan refid=\"MOESM1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003eS1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e4. Comparisons of PM morphological measurements between origin types\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe muscle belly length, muscle belly width, and MTJ width of the PM were compared among all origin types. Boxplots were generated to illustrate the relationships between the origin types (FIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The mean muscle belly length for PM origin Type 1 was 10.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.42 cm, for Type 2 was 8.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.53 cm, and for Type 3 was 7.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.47 cm. The mean muscle belly width for PM origin Type 1 was 1.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.64 cm, that for Type 2 was 1.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.50 cm, and that for Type 3 was 1.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.44 cm. The mean MTJ width for PM origin Type 1 was 0.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.11 cm, that for Type 2 was 0.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12 cm, and that for Type 3 was 0.24\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09 cm.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll comparisons, of muscle belly length, muscle belly width, and MTJ width among the different PM origin types showed statistically significant differences (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). In addition, comparisons by gender and body side for all PM origin types showed statistically significant results (\u003cem\u003eP\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/em\u003e) (Supplementary Information Figure \u003cspan refid=\"MOESM1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003eS1\u003c/span\u003e and S2).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eClassification and morphometric measurements of the plantaris muscle according to body side\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeatures\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLeft\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRight\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.79\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e160\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGender\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;90), Female (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;70)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eType\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56 (70%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49 (61.25%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105 (65.63%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (12.50% )\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 (21.25%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.800\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (16.88%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePM absence\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (10%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (7.50%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 (8.75%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBL\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.71\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.512\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.56\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBW\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.77\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.81\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.861\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMTJW\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.903\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTL\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.84\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.910\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.78\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBL/TL\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.553\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e** Null data due to, damage to the PM origin during dissection\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6 cases (2 left lower limbs and 4 right lower limbs, total\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4% of specimens)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBL; muscle belly length, BW: muscle belly width, MTJW: myotendinous junction width, TL: tibia length\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eClassification of plantaris muscle origin types by gender and body side\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eType of origin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP - value\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBody side\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP - value\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLeft\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRight\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65 (82.28%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (65.57%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.072\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(84.29%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(70%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.314\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(75%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (13.92%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (26.23%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(14.29%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(24.29)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(19.29%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (3.80%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (8.20%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (5.71%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (5.71%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (5.71%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140 *\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e* The total of 140 lower limbs represents the cases remaining after excluding 14 cases of PM absence and 6 cases of damaged PM origin during the examination of 160 lower limbs.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eDue to considerable difference of its presence frequency, there has been an ongoing debate about whether the PM is a vestigial muscle. In 2021, \u003cem\u003eGonera et al\u003c/em\u003e. conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the PM. The authors did not consider the PM to be a potential vestigial organ. They suggested if the PM were a vestigial organ, it should show a clear trend of decreasing throughout human evolutionary history. However, their analysis of the prevalence of the PM across three population groups\u0026mdash;European, American, and Asian\u0026mdash;did not reveal any definitive trend of increasing or decreasing frequency within these groups. Notably, studies conducted after 2000 in American and Asian populations reported a PM prevalence of over 90% in most cases. Consequently, the current data are deemed insufficient to conclusively determine whether the PM is a vestigial organ (Gonera et al,. 2021). Consistent with these findings, our study found that the prevalence of the PM among Koreans was 91.25%.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe abnormal morphology of the PM has clinical significance, particularly as a potential cause of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) (Kwon et al,. 2018). \u003cem\u003eKwon et al\u003c/em\u003e. confirmed that anatomical abnormalities, such as an aberrant PM or an abnormal mhGM, could contribute to PAES. Their analysis of MRI and CT scans from 35 PAES-affected legs revealed that 26.9% of patients had an aberrant PM, located higher and more medially than the normal course of the PM. This structure can compress the popliteal artery during plantar flexion of the ankle, potentially leading to artery occlusion. These findings highlight the importance of considering the PM\u0026rsquo;s anatomical characteristics in both comparative anatomy and clinical research, particularly its muscle belly shape and origin.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn our study, we examined 160 lower limbs of Koreans and identified 140 distinct PM origins, which were classified into three types. Among these, Type 1 and Type 2 were the most common. The classification criteria were based on whether the PM originated from the lhGM, the LFC, or the knee joint capsule. These types demonstrate a connection between the PM and the lhGM, which may suggest increased interaction between these two muscles. Notably, the Type 1 PM origin is attached to both the proximal part of the LFC and the knee joint capsule, with muscle fibers blending with the lhGM tendon. This structure may enhance stability and contribute to an increased range of motion during muscle contraction, allowing the PM to function more effectively in stabilizing posterior leg movements (Freeman et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). In contrast, Type 3 PM is attached only to the popliteal surface of the LFC and the knee joint capsule, without any connection to the lhGM.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral previous studies have categorized PM origin types using their own classification systems (Freeman et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e; Nayak et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e; Olewnik et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). The results of this study align with the classifications proposed by earlier researchers, showing notable similarities. In particular, the morphological characteristics and frequencies of PM origin types observed in Koreans closely resemble those reported by \u003cem\u003eNayak et al.\u0026rsquo;s\u003c/em\u003e study on the Indian population. When compared to the studies by \u003cem\u003eFreeman et al\u003c/em\u003e. and \u003cem\u003eOlewnik et al.\u003c/em\u003e, which focused on European populations, both \u003cem\u003eNayak et al\u003c/em\u003e.\u0026rsquo;s findings and those of this study reveal a significantly higher occurrence rate of PM origin Type 1. These results suggest the possibility of racial differences in PM origin types. In terms of specific characteristics, PM origin Type 2 (attached to the LFC, knee joint capsule, and lhGM) was consistently observed by all researchers, while PM origin Types 1 and 3 were reported in only some studies. Additionally, in our study, we did not observe rare cases of PM attachment to the iliotibial band, patella, or fibular collateral ligament, as reported in previous studies \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExamining the distribution of PM origin types revealed that the ranking of each type was consistent between males and females. However, the proportions of Type 2 and Type 3 origins were higher in females compared to males \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e. Additionally, measurements of PM muscle belly length, muscle belly width, MTJ width, and tibia length were all significantly greater in males. In contrast, the ratio of PM muscle belly length to tibia length which represents the relative position of the MTJ, did not differ between genders (Supplementary Information Table \u003cspan refid=\"MOESM1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003eS1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom a physical anthropological perspective, gender differences in muscle development are influenced by various factors, including biomechanical demands and hormonal effects (James \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). The greater muscle mass and size observed in males can be attributed to a higher level of testosterone, which promotes muscle hypertrophy. Additionally, male tend to have stronger tendons at muscle attachment points owing to their larger muscle mass and higher biomechanical demands. We propose that these factors contribute to stronger attachment of the PM origin and larger muscle belly size in males, which may explain the higher prevalence of Type 1 PM origin in males compared to females. Further biomechanical and physiological studies are recommended to investigate the underlying mechanisms behind these findings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo further analyze the relationship between PM morphological characteristics and their origin types, we compared the PM muscle belly length, muscle belly width, and MTJ thicknesses for each type. PM origin Type 1 exhibited a relatively longer muscle belly, greater muscle width, and thicker MTJ compared to other types. Type 2 origins had a smaller muscle belly and thinner MTJ compared to Type 1, while Type 3 showed the smallest muscle belly size and thinnest MTJ width among the three types \u003cb\u003e(\u003c/b\u003eFIGURE \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e. These differences suggest that Type 2 and Type 3 origins may be more vulnerable to complex injuries in the posterior leg.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe MTJ is critical for force transmission and stabilization, making it a common site for injury, particularly in muscles spanning two joints, such as the GM and PM. Injuries to the MTJ in the posterior knee are clinically significant, as improper treatment can prolong recovery (Harwin and Richrdson 2016; Kwak et al,. 2006). Using the ratio of PM muscle belly length to tibia length, we identified the relative position of the MTJ. The ratio was found to be 0.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06, providing a reference point for the relative position of the MTJ in the proximal portion of the tibia. This metric could serve as a valuable reference for diagnosing posterior knee pain and planning surgical interventions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA limitation of our study is its focus on anatomical variations in the PM origin without including an investigation of the PM insertion. Nevertheless, our findings provide valuable anatomical and baseline data on the PM in Koreans and are expected to enhance the general understanding of the morphological characteristics of the PM. Additionally, the identification of the relative MTJ location based on tibial length could serve as a foundation for further clinical studies, particularly those addressing knee injuries and surgical treatments.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComparison of plantaris muscle origin classifications across studies\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePM Origin attachment\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFreeman \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;46)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNayak \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;52)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOlewnik \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;142)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePresent study\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;160)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAttached to lhGM and mixed with lhGM tendon, LFC, KN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79.1%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.4%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75.0%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003elhGM, LFC, KN, accessory muscle belly attached to the popliteal surface of the femur\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.7%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAttachment to lhGM and not mixed with lhGM, popliteal surface of the LFC, and KN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.5%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.3%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.4%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.3%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLFC, KN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65.0%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.4%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.7%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLFC, KN, iliotibial band\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.4%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNarrow attachment to the LFC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.7%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFibrous extension of the PM to the patella\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.5%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003elhGM, LFC, KN, fibular collateral ligament\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.6%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevalence of the PM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92.3%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90.1%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91.25%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003elhGM; lateral head of the gastrocnemius, LFC: lateral condyle of the femur, KN; knee joint capsule\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors sincerely thanks those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind\u0026rsquo;s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Seung-Jun Hwang \u0026ndash; project development, data collection and management, photographic documentation, data analysis and corresponding author\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Hyemin Lee \u0026ndash; data collection, data analysis and manuscript writing\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Yijin Heo \u0026ndash; data collection, data analysis, figure editing and manuscript editing\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Dasom Kim \u0026ndash; data collection, data analysis and manuscript editing\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors have read and approved the manuscript.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;The authors declare no competing interests. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;The data can be made available as and when requires by the journal. The datasets used during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eCorresponding author: Seung-Jun Hwang, e-mail: [email protected]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics declarations\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe obtained explicit consent from the next of kin, donors, and relevant institutions before using the cadavers in this study. All experimental protocols were approved by Cadaveric Dissection Review Committee, University of Ulsan. The study confirms that every effort was made to comply with all local and international ethical guidelines and laws regarding the use of human cadaveric donors in anatomical research.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlfredson, H\u003c/em\u003e. Mid-portion Achilles tendinosis and the plantaris tendon. \u003cem\u003eBr. J. Sports Med.\u003c/em\u003e 45:1023\u0026ndash;1025 (2011)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eBianchi, S, Sailly, M, Molini, L.\u003c/em\u003e Isolated tear of the plantaris tendon: ultrasound and MRI appearance. \u003cem\u003eSkeletal radiology \u003c/em\u003e40(7):891\u0026ndash;895 (2011)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eFreeman, A. J., Jacobson, N. A., Fogg, Q. A.\u003c/em\u003e Anatomical variations of the plantaris muscle and a potential role in patellofemoral pain syndrome. \u003cem\u003eClinical anatomy \u003c/em\u003e21(2):178\u0026ndash;181 (2008)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eGoneraa B. et al. \u003c/em\u003eThe plantaris muscle \u0026ndash; Anatomical curiosity or a structure with important clinical value \u0026ndash; A comprehensive review of the current literature. \u003cem\u003eAnnals of Anatomy\u003c/em\u003e. 235:151681. (2021)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eHarwin, J. R., Richardson, M. L.\u003c/em\u003e \u0026quot;Tennis leg\u0026quot;: gastrocnemius injury is a far more common cause than plantaris rupture. \u003cem\u003eRadiology case reports\u003c/em\u003e 12(1):120\u0026ndash;123 (2016)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eHeo, Y., Lee, H. M., Hwang, S. J\u003c/em\u003e. Bicipital origin and the course of the plantaris muscle. \u003cem\u003eAnat Cell Biol.\u003c/em\u003e 54(2):289\u0026ndash;291 (2021)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eHerzog R. J\u003c/em\u003e. Accessory plantaris muscle: anatomy and prevalence. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Hospital for Special Surgery\u003c/em\u003e 7(1):52\u0026ndash;56 (2011)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eJames L. Nuzzo.\u003c/em\u003e Narrative reviews of sex differences in muscle strength, endurance, activation, size, fiber type, and strength training participation rates, preferences, motivations, injuries and neuromuscular adaptations. \u003cem\u003eJ. of Strength Cond Res.\u003c/em\u003e 37(2):494-536 (2023)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eKwak, H. S. et al. \u003c/em\u003eDiagnosis and follow-up US evaluation of ruptures of the medial head of the gastrocnemius (\u0026lsquo;tennis leg\u0026rsquo;). \u003cem\u003eKorean journal of radiology\u003c/em\u003e 7(3):193\u0026ndash;198 (2006)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eKwon Y J., Kwon T W., Gwon J G., Cho Y P., Hwang S J., Go K Y.\u003c/em\u003e Anatomical popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. \u003cem\u003eAnnals of Surgical treatment and research.\u003c/em\u003e 5:262-269 (2018)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eKwinter, D. M. et al. \u003c/em\u003eUnilateral Double Plantaris Muscle: A Rare Anatomical Variation. \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Morphology \u003c/em\u003e28(4):1097\u0026ndash;1099 (2010)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eNayak, S. R. et \u003c/em\u003eal Anatomy of plantaris muscle: a study in adult Indians. \u003cem\u003eLa Clinica terapeutica\u003c/em\u003e 161(3):249\u0026ndash;252 (2010)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eOlewnik, Ł., Wysiadecki, G., Podg\u0026oacute;rski, M., Polguj, M., Topol, M.\u003c/em\u003e The plantaris muscle tendon and its relationship with the Achilles Tendinopathy. \u003cem\u003eBioMed research international. \u003c/em\u003e9623579 (2018)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eOlewnik, Ł.et al.\u003c/em\u003e Proposal for a new classification of plantaris muscle origin and its potential effect on the knee joint. \u003cem\u003eAnnals of anatomy\u003c/em\u003e 231:151506 (2020) \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003ePark, K. R., Cho, J., Choi, Y. J., et al\u003c/em\u003e. Complex Variations of Plantaris Muscle Origin, Course and Insertion: A Cadaveric Case Report. \u003cem\u003eAnatomy \u0026amp; Biological Anthropology\u003c/em\u003e 2020;33(3):143\u0026ndash;147 (2020)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003ePeck, D., Buxton, D. F., Nitz, A.\u003c/em\u003e A comparison of spindle concentrations in large and small muscles acting in parallel combinations. \u003cem\u003eJournal of morphology\u003c/em\u003e 180(3):243\u0026ndash;252 (1984)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003ePowell, R. W. Lawn\u003c/em\u003e Tennis leg. (The Lancet 2, 1883) \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eRana, K. K., Das, S., Verma, R.\u003c/em\u003e Double plantaris muscle: A cadaveric study with clinical importance. \u003cem\u003eInt J Morphol\u003c/em\u003e 24(3):495-498 (2006)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpang, C., Alfredson, H., Docking, S. I., Masci, L., Andersson, G.\u003c/em\u003e The plantaris tendon: a narrative review focusing on anatomical features and clinical importance. \u003cem\u003eThe bone \u0026amp; joint journal \u003c/em\u003e98(10):1312-1319 (2016)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eSrimani, P., Meyur, R., De Bose, A., Kundu, B., Sadhu, A\u003c/em\u003e. Unilateral variation of plantaris muscle: a case report. \u003cem\u003eJ Evol Med Dent Sci\u003c/em\u003e 3:618-622 (2014)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"anatomical variation, cadaver, plantaris muscle, morphometry, republic of Korea, tennis leg","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6103798/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6103798/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe plantaris muscle (PM), considered vestigial in humans, has clinical significance owing to its anatomical variations. This study examined the prevalence, origin types, and clinical relevance of the PM in the Korean population to aid clinical and surgical practices, particularly in posterior knee surgery. A total of 160 lower limbs (90 male, 70 female) were dissected using classical anatomical methods. The morphology of PM origin was classified, and its prevalence was evaluated. The PM was present in 146 lower limbs (91.25%). Three distinct origin types were observed: Type 1 (75%), originating from the knee joint capsule, the lateral condyle of the femur (LFC), and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (lhGM), with fibers blending into the lhGM tendon; Type 2 (19.29%), originating from the knee joint capsule and the LFC but not blending with the lhGM tendon; and Type 3 (5.71%), originating solely from the LFC and the knee joint capsule, without any attachment to or connection with the lhGM. The average PM muscle belly length and width were 9.56\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.71 cm, and 1.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.64 cm, respectively. The PM shows morphological variability according to its origin attachment types. These findings provide valuable baseline data for understanding the anatomy of the PM, which can assist surgeons in diagnosing and treating conditions associated with posterior knee pain.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Morphological Classification of the Plantaris Muscle Origin: A Cadaveric Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-03-11 09:06:19","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6103798/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-07-09T05:04:25+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-08T20:23:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-03T14:32:09+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"241366345953883707595941203158872642145","date":"2025-06-24T13:41:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"339114021183244851340159011198724614433","date":"2025-06-24T10:06:21+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-24T08:36:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-16T13:11:21+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-03-05T05:14:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-03-04T08:26:45+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-02-25T09:29:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ecf476ee-57cb-46f4-9be3-4e2b01991ef6","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 11th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":45213466,"name":"Health sciences/Anatomy"},{"id":45213467,"name":"Health sciences/Medical research"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-11-10T16:03:05+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6103798","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18762-9","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2025-11-04 15:57:12","publishedOnDateReadable":"November 4th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-03-11 09:06:19","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-025-18762-9","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18762-9","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6103798","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6103798","identity":"rs-6103798","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}

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