The nerve supply to the clavicular part of the pectoralis major muscle: an anatomical study and clinical application of the function-preserving pectoralis major island flap. 2003

Eveline M L Corten, and Pascal P A Schellekens, and Ronald L A W Bleys, and Moshe Kon
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery and Pharmacology and Anatomy, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nerve supply to the clavicular part of the pectoralis major muscle so that the innervation to this part can be maintained in the muscle-preserving pectoralis major island-flap transfer. Although methods have been described that include a limited portion of the muscle while leaving the upper parts undisturbed with an intact motor innervation, reports on anatomical studies of this nerve supply are brief. The distal distribution of the nerves, the spatial relationship to the main vascular pedicle, and the ways to preserve them during surgical procedures remain unclear. Surgically relevant features of the clavicular part of the pectoralis major muscle were studied by dissection. The nerve supply to this part was examined on 11 sides of eight formalin-fixed cadavers. Two fresh cadavers were used for dissection, intraarterial polymer injection, and application of a nerve-preserving surgical technique. In all subjects, a separate nerve innervated the clavicular and upper medial sternocostal portions of the pectoralis major muscle. This nerve arises craniomedial to the main vascular pedicle of the flap and divides into several branches. These branches run in a fascia on the deep surface of the pectoralis major muscle, superficial to the origin and distal course of the vascular pedicle. Most branches to the clavicular part end medial to the coracoid process. The course of the branches to the upper sternocostal part is more medial. Based on their anatomical findings, the authors propose a surgical technique for transfer of the pectoralis major island flap to the head and neck area through a tunnel in the deltopectoral groove, lateral to the origin of the vascular pedicle. Head and neck reconstruction was performed using this technique. The presented method is a muscle-preserving procedure that maintains maximal donor-site function and morphology.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010369 Pectoralis Muscles The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles that make up the upper and fore part of the chest in front of the AXILLA. Pectoralis Major,Pectoralis Major Muscle,Pectoralis Minor,Pectoralis Minor Muscle,Pectoral Muscle,Muscle, Pectoral,Muscle, Pectoralis,Muscle, Pectoralis Major,Muscle, Pectoralis Minor,Muscles, Pectoralis Major,Pectoral Muscles,Pectoralis Major Muscles,Pectoralis Majors,Pectoralis Minor Muscles,Pectoralis Minors,Pectoralis Muscle
D002102 Cadaver A dead body, usually a human body. Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D002968 Clavicle A bone on the ventral side of the shoulder girdle, which in humans is commonly called the collar bone. Collar Bone,Bone, Collar,Bones, Collar,Clavicles,Collar Bones
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013524 Surgical Flaps Tongues of skin and subcutaneous tissue, sometimes including muscle, cut away from the underlying parts but often still attached at one end. They retain their own microvasculature which is also transferred to the new site. They are often used in plastic surgery for filling a defect in a neighboring region. Island Flap,Island Flaps,Flap, Surgical,Flaps, Surgical,Pedicled Flap,Surgical Flap,Flap, Island,Flap, Pedicled,Flaps, Island,Flaps, Pedicled,Pedicled Flaps

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