open access

Vol 76, No 2 (2017)
Original article
Submitted: 2016-10-13
Accepted: 2016-11-12
Published online: 2016-12-22
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Vascular anatomy of the thenar eminence: its relevance to a pedicled or free thenar flap

A. Zekavica1, M. Milisavljević, D. Erić, B. Ćurčić, S. Popović, B. Vitošević, A. Dožić, B. V. Štimec, R. Manojlović2
·
Pubmed: 28026846
·
Folia Morphol 2017;76(2):232-238.
Affiliations
  1. 1Laboratory for Vascular Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro
  2. Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro

open access

Vol 76, No 2 (2017)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2016-10-13
Accepted: 2016-11-12
Published online: 2016-12-22

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the arterial supply of the skin covering the prominent part of the thenar eminence in order to describe the possibility and potential for harvesting a pedicled or a free flap from the thenar eminence.

Materials and methods: The arteries were studied in 30 post-mortem specimens of human hands; 3 previously perfused with 4% formaldehyde solution, and injected with black India ink, and 27 injected with methyl-methacrylate and afterwards corroded in 40% potassium hydroxide solution.

Results: In all hands we found two little palmar arteries coming from the anatomical snuff-box portion of the radial artery. We labelled the first (proximal) branch as the middle thenar artery, because it supplies the middle third of the thenar eminence skin. Its diameter varied from 0.25 to 0.55 mm (mean 0.4 mm). The distal, more prominent branch of the radial artery, vascularised the lateral third of the thenar eminence skin, and was named the lateral thenar artery; its diameter ranged from 0.40 to 0.90 mm (mean 0.67 mm). The superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, always present, was classified as: hypoplastic, average or prominent, with a diameter ranging from 0.8 to 2.7 mm (mean 1.47 mm).

Conclusions: Three individually developed branches of the radial artery supplied the skin of the thenar eminence. Cutaneous branches of these three arteries were interconnected via anastomotic vessels.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the arterial supply of the skin covering the prominent part of the thenar eminence in order to describe the possibility and potential for harvesting a pedicled or a free flap from the thenar eminence.

Materials and methods: The arteries were studied in 30 post-mortem specimens of human hands; 3 previously perfused with 4% formaldehyde solution, and injected with black India ink, and 27 injected with methyl-methacrylate and afterwards corroded in 40% potassium hydroxide solution.

Results: In all hands we found two little palmar arteries coming from the anatomical snuff-box portion of the radial artery. We labelled the first (proximal) branch as the middle thenar artery, because it supplies the middle third of the thenar eminence skin. Its diameter varied from 0.25 to 0.55 mm (mean 0.4 mm). The distal, more prominent branch of the radial artery, vascularised the lateral third of the thenar eminence skin, and was named the lateral thenar artery; its diameter ranged from 0.40 to 0.90 mm (mean 0.67 mm). The superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, always present, was classified as: hypoplastic, average or prominent, with a diameter ranging from 0.8 to 2.7 mm (mean 1.47 mm).

Conclusions: Three individually developed branches of the radial artery supplied the skin of the thenar eminence. Cutaneous branches of these three arteries were interconnected via anastomotic vessels.

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Keywords

lateral thenar artery, middle thenar artery, superficial palmar branch, thenar eminence

About this article
Title

Vascular anatomy of the thenar eminence: its relevance to a pedicled or free thenar flap

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 76, No 2 (2017)

Article type

Original article

Pages

232-238

Published online

2016-12-22

Page views

1740

Article views/downloads

2397

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2016.0077

Pubmed

28026846

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2017;76(2):232-238.

Keywords

lateral thenar artery
middle thenar artery
superficial palmar branch
thenar eminence

Authors

A. Zekavica
M. Milisavljević
D. Erić
B. Ćurčić
S. Popović
B. Vitošević
A. Dožić
B. V. Štimec
R. Manojlović

References (18)
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