Rectus cervicalis—Anomalous muscle in the anterior compartment of the neck

Summary 

We present a supernumerary muscle in the anterior compartment of the neck previously undescribed in the English electronic literature—rectus cervicalis. History: A 3-year-old boy presented with a history of recurrent infections of a mid-line neck lesion with an associated skin tag. Treatment: This was excised under general anaesthetic. An unusual mid-line lesion consisting of a skin tag and a tubular tract and muscle bands running from a notched mandible to the manubrium were noted. Discussion: The anomalous muscle seen in this patient resembled the rectus abdominis muscle. Cases of rectus sternalis have been reported. The authors propose that this is the first recoded case of rectus cervicalis.

Keywords: Thyroglossal cyst, Anterior triangle, Anatomy, Supernumerary muscle, Rectus cervicalis, Rectus sternalis