Anatomical aspects of the gastrocnemius aponeurosis and its muscular bound portion: a cadaveric study-part II.

Gastrocnemius intramuscular aponeurotic recession is performed on the anterior surface of the muscular-bound portion of the gastrocnemius aponeurosis, in the "transection zone" located inferior to the region where the aponeurosis is formed by the separate tendons of the medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius, and superior to the inferior portions of the muscle's 2 heads. Measurements showed the mean proximal-to-distal length of the transection zone to be 50 mm (range 7 to 100 mm), and the mean width was 88 mm (range 48 to 19 mm). The part of the aponeurosis associated with the medial head contributed 60% of the width of the transection zone (mean 53 mm, range 30 to 80 mm), and the lateral head contributed 40% (mean 35 mm, range 18 to 53 mm).

Anatomical aspects of the gastrocnemius aponeurosis and its insertion: a cadaveric study.

Anatomical variation in the attachment of the gastrocnemius muscle to the soleus muscle has not been studied previously. The gastrocnemius muscle may insert directly onto the tendinous superficial surface of the soleus; however, in most cases, the distal end of the gastrocnemius aponeurosis extends for a variable distance as a thin, tendinous sheet void of muscular attachments. Surgeons performing a gastrocnemius recession may target the exposed inferior portion of the aponeurosis that is not directly covered by muscle.