ABSTRACT
The origin, pattern, caliber, projection on the body surface and anastomoses of the cutaneous arteries within the lateral thoracic flap have been studied in 33 cases (sides): adults- 30 cases, children- 3 cases. The chief results are as follows:1. Four types of cutaneous arterial supply within this flap be divided according to the number of branches: one branched type(51.51%?8.70), two branched type(27.27%?7.75), three branched type(15.15%?6.24), four branched type(6.06%?4.15).2. Lateral thoracic cutaneous arteries may arise from one to four of the brachial, lateral thoracic, axillary, dorsal thoracic, subscapular or thoraco-acromial arteries. The caliber of their origin varies between 1.23～1.75mm. The thoracoepigastric vein which drains blood into the lateral thoracic vein may be regarded as the main cutaneous vein in the flap area. The caliber of its end is 3.35?0.42 mm. This vein provided with valves.3. There are plenty of cutaneous arterial anastomoses within the lateral thoracic flap. In the radiograph the networks of blood vessels may be seen among the branches of the cutaneous arteries. These networks are distributed over the whole flap.4. The blood vessels of the lateral thoracic flap and its application have been discussed and the position of skin incisions and landmark of the cutaneous arteries been proposed in the article.
ABSTRACT
The cutaneous arteries of the forearm and their anastomoses in skin and subcutaneous tissue were invetigated on 35 upper limbs.1. The average length of the radial artery is 215.3 mm. This artery can be divided into a covered part and a exposed part. Their lengths are 117.7 mm. and 101.4 mm. respectively. The calibers of the upper end, the intermediate point, and the lower end of the radial artery are 2.7mm, 2.3 mm and 2.4 mm respectively.2. The exposed part of the radial artery sends out more cutaneous branches (9.6 branches) than the covered part (4.2 branches), While their muscular branches are nearly equal in number. The calibers of the cutaneous and muscular branches of the radial artery varies from 0.3～0.5 mm.The fine anastomoses of the cutaneous branches exist between the radial and ulnar arteries and between the radial and ulnar arteries and the dorsal interosseus artery and they form an arterial networks in the subcutaneous tissue of the whole forearm. For blood supply a skin flap may be cut from the whole forearm from the standpoint of morphology.4. The calibers of the radial and cephalic veins at the level of middle part of the forearm are 1.3 mm and 2.8 mm respectively. As the vasular pedicle both the veins should be anastomosed during transplant operation in order to increase the volume of the draining blood.5. The skin flap of forearm blongs to a type of blood supply of arterial trunk network, which have been distinguished with that of some other skin and myocutaneous flaps according to the anatomical characteristics of the radial artery.
ABSTRACT
1. The blood supply of the tensor fascia lata myocutaneous free flap comes chiefly from the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex artery (76.74％) or its ascending and the transverse branches (23.26％). In most cases the ascending branch may be served as the vascular pedicle of myocutaneous free flap in transplatation. In a few cases the transverse branch my be used instead of the ascending one.2. The projection of the origin of the lateral circumflx artery on the body surface is at a point averaging 96.5mm below, and 49.2mm medial to the anterior superior iliac spine. This point is the surface landmark of the lateral circumflex artery. 3. The branches of the lateral circumflex artery may be classified into four types. Type 1—32 cases, 74.42％; Type Ⅱ—3 cases, 6.98％; Type Ⅲ—7 cases, 16.28％; Type Ⅳ—1 cases, 2.33％.4. The tensor fascia lata is chiefly supplied by the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex artery, it divides into a short superior and a long inferior twigs. Both twigs enter the muscle and form abundant anastomoses in the subcutaneus tissues. In order to reduce the thick ness of the free flap for the use in plastics, the superior twig with its supplying muscle is cut away and the inferior one's left to supply myocutaneus flap.5. The angle between the ascending branch and the inner surface of the tensor fasca lata varies between 44? to 120?, with an average of 66.5?. The original angle must be kept in transplantation, which favours the survival of the myocutaneus free flap.