Multiple variations in neck musculature and their surgical implications

Muscular variations in the region of head and neck are not uncommon but when present are extremely significant not only for the anatomists but also for the clinicians and the surgeons because they can hinder the diagnosis and treatment of various disorders, and also can cause a few rare diseases. We report here a case of multiple muscular variations in the neck of a 58-year-old male cadaver, involving the omohyoid, sternocleidomastoid and the digastric muscles. On the left side, both the bellies of omohyoid were originating from the clavicle with the absence of an intermediate tendon. The left sternocleidomastoid had three heads of origin, one sternal and two clavicular. There was bilateral duplication of the anterior belly of digastric muscle. The clinical implications of these anatomical variations are discussed in detail.