[Surgical vascular anatomy of the thoracic wall]

Since the rediscovery of the latissimus dorsi flap in 1976 axial skin- and musculocutaneous flaps have dramatically improved the possibilities of plastic reconstruction. Better knowledge of the microvascular anatomy of the thoracic wall is the condition for safe flap surgery. The frequent topographic variations and the possibility of a reversed flow through vascular anastomosis are shown. This paper is ment to be a basic introduction to the following communications on flaptechniques in the same journal.