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Anatomical_variation

Anatomical variation refers to differences in body structure that deviate from typical descriptions, categorized into morphometric, consistency, and spatial types. These variations are generally considered normal, often asymptomatic, and primarily caused by genetic factors, with significant differences observed among populations and organs. Knowledge of these variations is crucial for distinguishing them from pathological conditions, and they can be identified through imaging techniques and cadaver studies.

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15 views2 pages

Anatomical_variation

Anatomical variation refers to differences in body structure that deviate from typical descriptions, categorized into morphometric, consistency, and spatial types. These variations are generally considered normal, often asymptomatic, and primarily caused by genetic factors, with significant differences observed among populations and organs. Knowledge of these variations is crucial for distinguishing them from pathological conditions, and they can be identified through imaging techniques and cadaver studies.

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Gabriel Sant´Anna Moreira
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Anatomical variation

An anatomical variation, anatomical variant, or anatomical variability is a presentation of body


structure with morphological features different from those that are typically described in the majority of
individuals. Anatomical variations are categorized into three types including morphometric (size or
shape), consistency (present or absent), and spatial (proximal/distal or right/left).[1]

Variations are seen as normal in the sense that they are found consistently among different individuals,
are mostly without symptoms, and are termed anatomical variations rather than abnormalities.[2]

Anatomical variations are mainly caused by genetics and may vary considerably between different
populations. The rate of variation considerably differs between single organs, particularly in muscles.[2]
Knowledge of anatomical variations is important in order to distinguish them from pathological
conditions.

A very early paper published in 1898, presented anatomic variations to have a wide range and
significance,[3] and before the use of X-ray technology, anatomic variations were mostly only found on
cadaver studies. The use of imaging techniques have defined many such variations.[4]

Some variations are found in different species such as polydactyly, having more than the usual number of
digits.

Variants of structures

Muscles
Kopsch gave a detailed listing of muscle variations. These included the absence of muscles; muscles that
were doubled; muscles that were divided into two or more parts; an increase or decrease in the origin or
insertion of the muscle; and the joining to adjacent organs.[2]

The palmaris longus muscle in the forearm is sometimes absent, as is the plantaris muscle in the leg.[5]

The sternalis muscle is a variant that lies in front of the pectoralis major and may show up on a
mammogram.[6]

Bones
Usually there are five lumbar vertebrae but sometimes there are six, and sometimes there are four.[5]

Joints
A discoid meniscus is a rare thickened lateral meniscus in the knee joint that can sometimes be swollen
and painful.[7]
Organs
The lungs are subject to anatomical variations.[8]

See also
Supernumerary body part
Visible difference

References
1. Yammine, Kaissar (2014). "Evidence-Based Anatomy" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art
icles/PMC4282349). Clinical Anatomy. 27 (6): 847–852. doi:10.1002/ca.22397 (https://doi.or
g/10.1002%2Fca.22397). ISSN 0897-3806 (https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0897-3806).
PMC 4282349 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4282349). PMID 24797314
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24797314).
2. "Anatomic variants" (https://www.anatomyatlases.org/AnatomicVariants/Introduction.shtml).
3. Cunningham, DJ (October 1898). "The Significance of Anatomical Variations" (https://www.n
cbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1327970). Journal of Anatomy and Physiology. 33 (Pt 1):
1–9. PMC 1327970 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1327970).
PMID 17232348 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17232348).
4. Bell, Daniel J. "Anatomical variants | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org" (https://
radiopaedia.org/articles/anatomical-variants?lang=gb). Radiopaedia.
5. Saladin, K (2012). Anatomy and Physiology (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. pp. 14–15.
ISBN 9780073378251.
6. Garg, T. "Sternalis muscle" (https://radiopaedia.org). radiopaedia.org. Retrieved
19 September 2019.
7. Kim, JG; Han, SW; Lee, DH (2016-12-01). "Diagnosis and Treatment of Discoid Meniscus"
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5134787). Knee Surgery & Related
Research. 28 (4): 255–262. doi:10.5792/ksrr.16.050 (https://doi.org/10.5792%2Fksrr.16.05
0). PMC 5134787 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5134787).
PMID 27894171 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27894171).
8. Moore, K (2018). Clinically oriented anatomy (Eighth ed.). Wolters Kluwer. p. 342.
ISBN 9781496347213.

External links
Atlas of human anatomical variations (http://www.anatomyatlases.org/AnatomicVariants/Ana
tomyHP.shtml)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anatomical_variation&oldid=1280595160"

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