Morphology and neurovascular supply of extensor digitorum brevis muscle of the foot in humans: Implications for reconstructive surgeries

Extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) is a small muscle present on the dorsum of the foot assisting in the extension of toes. The use of EDB in various plastic surgery procedures has renewed interest of clinicians to study the variations in EDB, its arterial supply and nerve supply. However, a review of literature highlights the paucity of anatomical studies comprehensively describing the morphology of EDB and its variations. The aim was to study the origin, insertion and morphological variants of EDB with emphasis on its arterial supply in embalmed human cadavers, which may have bearing on the use of EDB in various reconstructive surgical procedures.

EDB muscle was carefully dissected to display the attachments, arterial supply and nerve supply, by retracting the tendons of extensor digitorum longus and peroneus tertius muscles.

EDB demonstrated many variations in its origin and insertion, had additional bellies and also had additional tendinous slips connecting its muscle bellies and having attachment over fascia covering the dorsal interossei and the metatarsals. Extensor hallucis brevis was the most prominent belly. In 13 cases, two lateral tarsal arteries supplied the muscle. Variations in the origin of dorsalis pedis artery were also observed. Accessory deep peroneal nerve was found to supply the muscle in addition to the lateral terminal branch of deep peroneal nerve in three specimens. In view of wide usage of EDB for clinical procedures, the knowledge of variations in its morphology, especially arterial supply and nerve supply is essential.