Vol 67, No 1 (2008)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2007-12-03
The subscapular artery and the thoracodorsal branch: an anatomical study
R.C. Jesus, M.C.H. Lopes, G.T.S. Demarchi, C.R. Ruiz, N. Wafae, G.C. Wafae
Folia Morphol 2008;67(1):58-62.
Vol 67, No 1 (2008)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2007-12-03
Abstract
The motive for this research was the use of the muscles of the scapular region
in transposition, transplantation and reparative surgery and the need for more
detailed knowledge of the blood supply to these muscles. In addition, the subscapular
arterial tree may be used as a source of microvascular grafts to replace
damaged or diseased portions of arteries, particularly in the hand and forearm.
The research was conducted on 60 sides of corpses of adults of both sexes.
It was noticed that the subscapular artery was present in 96.7% of cases and
originated laterally to the pectoralis minor muscle in 76.7% of cases. The average
calibre was 5.0 mm, and in 73.2% of cases it measured between 4.0 and
5.9 mm. The average length was 18.0 mm, ranging from 10.0 to 29.9 mm
(76.7%). It presented in its course important relations with the axillary nerve
(69%) and with the radial nerve (82.8%). Its branches were collateral (subscapular
muscle - 61.3%) and terminal (except for the circumflex scapular artery),
leading to the following muscles: serratus anterior (43.9%), latissimus dorsi
(27.6%), and subscapular (23.3%). The thoracodorsal artery, one of the terminal
branches, most frequently showed a calibre of between 2.0 and 3.9 mm
(70.3%), collateral branches in 85.0%, was mainly distributed to the subscapular
muscle (36.7%) and to the serratus anterior muscle (29.0%) and had terminal
branches to the following muscles: latissimus dorsi (44.1%), serratus anterior
(40.5%) and the subscapular (12.5%). The serratus anterior muscle received
one branch in 39.5% and two branches in 41.9%, while the latissimus dorsi
muscle received one branch in 66.7% and two branches in 23.1%.
(Folia Morphol
2008; 67: 58-62)
Abstract
The motive for this research was the use of the muscles of the scapular region
in transposition, transplantation and reparative surgery and the need for more
detailed knowledge of the blood supply to these muscles. In addition, the subscapular
arterial tree may be used as a source of microvascular grafts to replace
damaged or diseased portions of arteries, particularly in the hand and forearm.
The research was conducted on 60 sides of corpses of adults of both sexes.
It was noticed that the subscapular artery was present in 96.7% of cases and
originated laterally to the pectoralis minor muscle in 76.7% of cases. The average
calibre was 5.0 mm, and in 73.2% of cases it measured between 4.0 and
5.9 mm. The average length was 18.0 mm, ranging from 10.0 to 29.9 mm
(76.7%). It presented in its course important relations with the axillary nerve
(69%) and with the radial nerve (82.8%). Its branches were collateral (subscapular
muscle - 61.3%) and terminal (except for the circumflex scapular artery),
leading to the following muscles: serratus anterior (43.9%), latissimus dorsi
(27.6%), and subscapular (23.3%). The thoracodorsal artery, one of the terminal
branches, most frequently showed a calibre of between 2.0 and 3.9 mm
(70.3%), collateral branches in 85.0%, was mainly distributed to the subscapular
muscle (36.7%) and to the serratus anterior muscle (29.0%) and had terminal
branches to the following muscles: latissimus dorsi (44.1%), serratus anterior
(40.5%) and the subscapular (12.5%). The serratus anterior muscle received
one branch in 39.5% and two branches in 41.9%, while the latissimus dorsi
muscle received one branch in 66.7% and two branches in 23.1%.
(Folia Morphol
2008; 67: 58-62)
Keywords
morphology; vascular anatomy; vascularisation of the axillary region
Title
The subscapular artery and the thoracodorsal branch: an anatomical study
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 67, No 1 (2008)
Article type
Original article
Pages
58-62
Published online
2007-12-03
Page views
597
Article views/downloads
3394
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2008;67(1):58-62.
Keywords
morphology
vascular anatomy
vascularisation of the axillary region
Authors
R.C. Jesus
M.C.H. Lopes
G.T.S. Demarchi
C.R. Ruiz
N. Wafae
G.C. Wafae