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Tetrafurcation of the subscapular artery. Anatomical and clinical implications
Affiliations- Department of Anatomy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, Greece
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Abstract
Anatomic variations of axillary artery branches are commonly encountered during radiological investigation and surgical operations. Their existence can confuse interpretation of radiological results and lead to undesired complications during surgery. In this report authors describe a rare case of a subscapular arterial trunk that gave origin to thoracodorsal, circumflex scapular, posterior humeral circumflex, and lateral thoracic artery. Such a variation might cause undesired sequelae during trauma management and a variety of common flap harvesting operations including latissimus dorsi, scapular and parascapular flaps. Furthermore it presents embryological interest as it gives insight to embryologic development of axillary area.
Abstract
Anatomic variations of axillary artery branches are commonly encountered during radiological investigation and surgical operations. Their existence can confuse interpretation of radiological results and lead to undesired complications during surgery. In this report authors describe a rare case of a subscapular arterial trunk that gave origin to thoracodorsal, circumflex scapular, posterior humeral circumflex, and lateral thoracic artery. Such a variation might cause undesired sequelae during trauma management and a variety of common flap harvesting operations including latissimus dorsi, scapular and parascapular flaps. Furthermore it presents embryological interest as it gives insight to embryologic development of axillary area.
Keywords
subscapular artery, posterior humeral circumflex artery, thoracodorsal artery, lateral thoracic artery, scapular flap, plastic surgery
About this articleTitle
Tetrafurcation of the subscapular artery. Anatomical and clinical implications
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
312-315
Published online
2016-09-28
Page views
1627
Article views/downloads
1383
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2017;76(2):312-315.
Keywords
subscapular artery
posterior humeral circumflex artery
thoracodorsal artery
lateral thoracic artery
scapular flap
plastic surgery
Authors
I. Dimovelis
A. Michalinos
Eleftherios Spartalis
G. Athanasiadis
P. Skandalakis
T. Troupis
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