Variant Prevertebral Muscle: Unique Cadaveric Findings

The levator scapulae muscle typically runs from the transverse process of the atlas to the superior angle of the scapula. In this paper, we describe a rare finding identified during a dissection of a male cadaver, wherein a continuation of the right levator scapulae ran past its normal attachment to the C1 transverse process, fusing with the inferior attachment of the rectus capitis lateralis muscle. No variants were found on the opposite side, and the innervation of the levator scapulae muscle variant was typical of that of a normal levator scapulae. We also describe other related variants of the cranial levator scapulae muscle, hypothesize the embryologic origin of our finding, and finally discuss potential clinical relevance of levator scapulae muscle variants.