Localization of the gracilis muscle motor points – key considerations for botulinum neurotoxin injection and electrical stimulation

• Published in: Annals of anatomy 2023-06, Vol.248, p.152072-152072, Article 152072
• Main Authors: Kurtys, Konrad, Gonera, Bartosz, Zielinska, Nicol, Podgórski, Michał, Karauda, Piotr, Olewnik, Łukasz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Botulinum neurotoxin injection; Botulinum Toxins; Electric Stimulation; Electrical stimulation; Gracilis Muscle; Injections, Intramuscular; Innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation
• ISSN: 0940-9602; 1618-0402
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2023.152072

Muscle motor points are considered the best sites for electrode positioning in electrical stimulation and, by some researchers, for botulinum neurotoxin injections. The aim of this study is to locate the motor points in the gracilis muscle to improve muscle function maintenance and treatment of spasticity. Ninety-three gracilis muscles (49 right, 44 left), fixed in 10% formalin solution, were subjected to the research. All nerve branches running towards the muscle were precisely traced to each motor point. Specific measurements were collected. The gracilis muscle presents multiple motor points (median of 12), all of which were localized on the deep (lateral) side of the muscle belly. Generally, motor points of this muscle were spread between 15% and 40% of the reference line length. Our findings may help clinicians identify appropriate locations for electrode placement during electrical stimulation of the gracilis muscle; they also deepen our understanding of the correlation between motor points and motor end plates and improve the application of botulinum neurotoxin injections.