Accessory muscle

For Accessory muscles of respiration, see Muscles_of_respiration § Accessory_muscles_of_respiration.

An accessory muscle is a relatively rare anatomic duplication of a muscle that may appear anywhere in the muscular system. Treatment is not indicated unless the accessory muscle interferes with normal function. Examples are the sternalis muscle, accessory soleus muscle and extensor digitorum brevis manus.

An accessory muscle can also refer to a muscle that is not primarily responsible for movement but does provide assistance. Examples of such muscles are the accessory muscles of inspiration where the sternocleidomastoid and the scalene muscles (anterior, middle and posterior scalene) are typically considered accessory muscles of breathing.

See also

• Accessory bone
• List of muscles of the human body