Accessory muscle

An accessory muscle is a relatively rare anatomic duplication of a muscle that may appear anywhere in the muscular system. Treatment is not indicated unless the accessory muscle interferes with normal function.^[1] Examples are the sternalis muscle, accessory soleus muscle, extensor digitorum brevis manus and epitrochleoanconeus muscle.

An accessory muscle can also refer to a muscle that is not primarily responsible for movement but does provide assistance.^[1] Examples of such muscles are the accessory muscles of inspiration where the sternocleidomastoid and the scalene muscles (anterior, middle and posterior scalene) are typically considered accessory muscles of breathing.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "accessory muscle". Farlex. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
^ Netter FH. Atlas of Human Anatomy 3rd ed. Icon Learning Systems. Teterboro, New Jersey 2003 - plate 191

This muscle article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

v t e Muscular system
Tissue	Muscle tissue Cardiac muscle Skeletal muscle Smooth muscle Fascia Superficial Deep Visceral Fascial compartment Arm Forearm Thigh Leg Tendon/Aponeurosis
Shape	Fusiform Pennate muscle Unipennate Bipennate
Other	Anatomical terms of muscle Origin Insertion List of muscles of the human body Composite muscle