Adult head and face models:localization observation of the angular artery and its clinical significance / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Nasolabial fold flap has been widely used in clinical surgery. The facial artery anatomy has been widely used in clinical research. Angular artery dissection is becoming more and more important to nasolabial groove area surgery, but at present, there is a lack of anatomical analysis of internal angular artery. OBJECTIVE:To study the anatomy of the angular artery, and to provide anatomical data for protecting the nasolabial flap during surgery. METHODS:Twenty sides of adult cadaver specimens on head and face were dissected. A reference coordinate system was made based on the line between the connection of two medial angles of eyes (axis X) and the facial midline line (axis Y). The location of the angular artery was measured taking A-F as reference points. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The slant angles of the angular artery on BC section, CD section, DE section and EF section were (11.1±4.3)°, (34.1±8.8)°, (21.5±10.5)°, and (17.0±4.7)°, respectively. (2) The angular artery sourced from facial artery was more than it sourced from ophthalmic artery. The diameter of right blood vessel was larger than that of left side. (3) The angular artery sourced from ophthalmic artery comes from the location which extended 8.1 mm to both sides from the point which was 10 mm up from the intersection of facial medial angle of eyes connection and midline. The blood vessel diameter of the starting point was (0.7±0.2) mm. The whole range was 20.1 mm. (4) The angular artery sourced from facial artery comes from the location which extended 25.8 mm to both sides from the point which was 40 mm down to the intersection of facial medial angle of eyes connection and midline. The blood vessel diameter of the starting point was (0.9±0.3) mm. Point to the wing of nose the lateral distance was (5.0±1.2) mm. The whole range was 68.7 mm. The surface projecting of angular artery coming from research results provided anatomic basis for surgery of nasolabial flap.