Abstract

Hereditary aspects in the anomalous innervation of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle by the accessory deep peroneal nerve, were investigated. Utilizing electrophysiological techniques, 22% of 100 healthy unrelated individuals demonstrated this variation in innervation of one or both extensor digitorum brevis muscles. The study of family members of five of these subjects with the variation showed that 78% of relatives also had this anomalous innervation. These data suggest that hereditary factors may be significant in the occurrence of this variation and a dominant mode of inheritance may be the case.