[White finger and hypertrophy of the lumbrical muscles]

Variant lumbrical musculature of the left hand: Clinico-anatomic elucidation

Human hand is haughtily described in literature as 'revolution in evolution'. Lumbricals form an intricate part of its musculature playing a vital role in complex digital movements. By virtue of their origin from the volar aspect of palm and their insertion onto the dorsal aspect to the extensor digital expansion of the digits, lumbricals display complex actions flexing the metacarpophalangeal joint and extending the interphalangeal joints. Such manoeuvres of the digits are vital for skilful and precision movements. During routine dissection of the teaching program of undergraduate medical students, unusual origin and morphology of all the four lumbrical muscles in the left hand of a male cadaver was observed. Clinicians and hand surgeons should be aware of its variations while designing and dealing with hand surgeries. An attempt has been made to comprehend its clinical, embryological and phylogenetic aspects.