Atavistic muscles in human anatomy: Evolutionary origins and clinical implications

Abstract

The evolution and variation of human anatomy are of great interest to physicians and anatomists. Some of these variations can be categorized as vestigial, accessory or atavistic structures. Vestigial structures are rudimentary structures normally seen in human anatomy that correspond to fully elaborated structures in mammals with more primitive phenotypes. They are present in all members of a population. Some of the more common vestigial structures in humans include the wisdom teeth, the appendix and the coccyx.