THE VESSELS OF THE SKIN FLAPS AT GROIN REGION Ⅲ. THE MACRO-MICRO-ANATOMY OF THE SUPERFICIAL EXTERNAL PUDENDAL VESSELS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

In 82% of fifty groin regions of the cadavers studied, the superficial external pudendal artery (SEPA) possesses an upper and a lower main branches (UMB, LowMB). In 66% of them, the two main branches come from one common trunk and in the rest, they arise independently. Most of the SEPA trunks or main branches arise from the femoral artery. The penetrating points of the SEPA trunk or main branches through the cribriform fascia are located at the medial or lateral margin of the terminal end of the great saphenous vein around a center 10 mm medial and 50 mm distal to the origin of femoral artery. If the SEPA trunk or main branches are crossing the great saphenous vein, it is frequently found that the SEPA trunk and LowMB are crossing behind but the UMB in front of it.The UMB supplies the suprapubic, prepubic and medial part of the inguinal regions. A line which connects a point 50 mm distal to the origin of femoral artery with the pubic tubercle is suggested as the axis of UMB free skin flap. The LowMB supplies the upper part of anterior medial femoral and prepubic regions. A line which is parallel to the pubic crest and 50 mm distal to the origin of femoral artery is suggested as the axis of LowMB free skin flap. The caliber of each of the two main branches is intimately correladed with the area of the skin which they supplied.In 82% of cases, two sets of superficial veins are not present. These superficial external pudendal veins are also the accompanying veins of the corresponding arteries.The advantages of using these vessels as skin flap pedical vessels were discussed.