Do the vastus medialis obliquus and vastus medialis longus really exist? A systematic review

Smith, TO ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1673-2954, Nichols, R, Harle, D and Donell, ST (2009) Do the vastus medialis obliquus and vastus medialis longus really exist? A systematic review. Clinical Anatomy, 22 (2). pp. 183-199. ISSN 0897-3806

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

There remains controversy over whether the vastus medialis (VM) is a single anatomical structure or whether it is composed of two separate portions, the vastus medialis longus (VML) proximally and the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) distally. The objective of this study was to assess the evidence base of investigations into muscle fiber orientation, presence of a fibrofascial plane, and the innervation of the VM in human cadaver specimens and subjects. In addition to a hand search of specialist journals, an electronic search of AMED, British Nursing Index, CINAHL, the Cochrane database, EMBASE, ovid Medline, Pubmed, and Zetoc were performed from their inception to September 2008. All human subject papers assessing VM fiber orientation, presence of a fibrofascial plane, and the innervation of the VM where reviewed. Twenty-six papers, assessing 699 healthy knees, and 591 specimens with patellofemoral dysfunction were reviewed. The majority of nonpathological and pathological cases presented with a substantial alteration in fiber alignment seen between proximal and distal muscle portions of VM. Both cohorts presented with either one or two nerve branches to the VM. A fibrofascial plane dividing these two muscles was seen in a small proportion of both pathological and nonpathological knees. There was, however, insufficient good quality evidence to state whether the VM is composed of two separate components, the proximal VML and the distal VMO. Further study is recommended to evaluate the pathophysiological implications of such findings and to assess whether these correlate to functional electromyographic findings between the VML and VMO muscles.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Allied Health Professions (former - to 2013)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Depositing User: Rhiannon Harvey
Date Deposited: 19 Apr 2011 11:08
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 00:38
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/29608
DOI: 10.1002/ca.20737

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item