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The morphometric parameters of the biceps brachii: cadaveric study

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Abstract

Background

The biceps brachii (BB) is a fusiform muscle comprising of two muscular bellies located in the anterior compartment of the arm. Its primary function includes elbow flexion and forearm supination.

Purpose

The study aimed to examine the morphometric parameters of the BB in adult cadaveric specimens.

Methods

This dissection-based study examined the anatomy of the BB in 40 arms taken from 20 Thiel embalmed European cadavers, including 13 males with an average age of 81 years and seven females with an average age of 84 years. The investigation included an observational inspection of the BB morphology and collected 19 parameters, comprising the lengths and widths of the short and long head tendons and muscle bellies.

Results

The observation analysis showed that the anatomy of the BB consisted mainly of two muscle bellies: a short head and a long head. An additional third humeral head, originating from the anteromedial aspect of the mid of the humerus and inserted into the common biceps tendon, was observed in four (10%) specimens. The average lengths of the short head and long head were 35.98 ± 3.44 cm and 38.90 ± 3.40 cm, respectively. There was no difference in the BB parameters according to the arm sides. However, the male specimens showed greater BB parameters than the female specimens.

Conclusion

The short head had a greater muscle belly, while the long head had a longer origin and insertion tendons. The BB parameters were correlated positively with the humerus length.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during the current study are included in the published article.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) for providing a professional environment to enable this study to be undertaken and to those who donated their bodies for medical education and research.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine- Riyadh, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Mail Code 3127, P.O.Box.3660, Riyadh, 11481, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Abdulrahman S Alraddadi

  2. King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ministry of National Guard – Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulrahman S Alraddadi

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  1. Abdulrahman S Alraddadi
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A.S.R. confirms sole responsibility for the following: study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, and manuscript preparation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abdulrahman S Alraddadi.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was conducted at the Center for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID), College of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee in accordance with ethical standards, ensuring compliance with the regulations and rules specified in the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006. Informed consent was obtained prior to and at the time of body donation.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Alraddadi, A.S. The morphometric parameters of the biceps brachii: cadaveric study. Surg Radiol Anat 46, 463–472 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03328-7

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