New concepts on the arterial vascularization of skin and muscle

From a personal anatomic study, the author describes here the principles of cutaneous and muscular arterial blood supply and proposes a new classification. The cutaneous arterial blood supply depends on musculocutaneous arteries and on direct cutaneous arteries. With the exception of some cutaneous flaps that are supplied by direct cutaneous arteries, most other cutaneous areas are supplied by musculocutaneous arteries. The dissection of a fasciocutaneous flap reveals a new possibility for repairing large skin defects. The subcutaneous aponeurosis possesses a rich vascular supply and an important arterial network. The muscular arterial blood supply is fully studied here with the description of two main groups of muscles corresponding to an adequate blood supply.