An anatomical study on the lingual-facial trunk.

PURPOSE: We quantified variations of the lingual artery origin, measured the lingual artery origin distance from clinical relevant landmarks and compared the lingual artery diameters with normal and variable origin. METHODS: Forty-two formalin fixed male cadavers were bilaterally evaluated. Measurements were performed with the aid of an electronic digital caliper. RESULTS: The origin distances from the common carotid artery bifurcation was 1.05 +/- 0.11 and 1.02 +/- 0.11 cm for the right and left lingual arteries respectively with no differences compared to the lingual-facial trunks. The diameters of the lingual arteries were 0.25 +/- 0.01 and 0.26 +/- 0.01 cm for the right and left sides, respectively, while the lingual-facial trunks showed diameters of 0.21 +/- 0.02 and 0.24 +/- 0.02 cm for the right and left sides, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study adds information on the lingual artery diameter and its anatomical relation to clinically useful landmarks.

Superficial palmar arch: an arterial diameter study.

Although anatomical variations in the arterial pattern of the hand have been the subject of many studies, information on the diameter of the superficial palmar arch contributing vessels and its branches are rarely found in the literature. The objective of the current study was to evaluate these arterial variations, with special attention to the diameter of the superficial palmar arch contributing vessels and its major branches. Forty-six hands from male embalmed human cadavers were evaluated, 21 right hands and 25 left hands. Complete arches were present in 43% on the right and in 52% on the left. Arches were completed by the median artery in two cases. Variations were more common at the radial side of the arch and on left hands. Comparison of vessel diameters revealed the radial artery to be significantly larger than the ulnar artery but the ulnar artery to be larger than the superficial branch of the radial artery. The diameters of the common digital arteries were not different with regard to complete or incomplete arches, or with regard to the presence of the median artery.