Accessory origin of the piriformis muscle

Ravindranath Y, Manjunath KY, Ravindranath R
Correspondence: Dr Yogitha Ravindranath, yogi3110@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Incidental finding of an accessory slip of the piriformis muscle in the gluteal region is reported. Following routine dissection of the gluteal region in three formalin-fixed cadavers, an accessory slip of the piriformis was observed. The accessory slip was cleaned, attachments were identified, and dimensions were measured in two parts as fleshy and tendinous parts with a graduated scale to the nearest millimetre. The accessory slip was innervated by a small twig from the sciatic nerve. Having considered the available literature, the accessory slip of piriformis is rare, and if found, could be a cause for the undiagnosed chronic pain in the back and gluteal region, as this accessory slip may compress the sciatic nerve.

Keywords: accessory slip piriformis, anatomical muscle variations, bifid piriformis, piriformis muscle, piriformis syndrome
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(8): e217-8