Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the presence of adipose tissue surrounding the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon through gross dissection and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Grossly, we observed the FHL tendon and surrounding tissues in nine cadavers. Using MRI, we quantitatively evaluated each tissue from the horizontal plane in 40 healthy ankles. Macroscopic autopsy revealed the presence of adipose tissue behind the ankle joint between the FHL and fibula, and horizontal cross-sections showed an oval-shaped adipose tissue surrounding the tendon. The cross-sectional area on MRI was 14.4 mm(2) (11.7-16.7) for the FHL tendon and 120.5 mm(2) (100.3-149.4) for the adipose tissue. Additionally, the volume of the adipose tissue was 963.3 mm(3) (896.2-1115.6). There is an adipose tissue around FHL tendon and maybe this close anatomical relationship might influence the function of the tendon and be involved in its pathologies.