The vascular network in human temporalis muscle and its surgical application

Abstract

Despite the widespread clinical use of the temporalis muscle flap, understanding of the intramuscular vasculatures and its distribution remains poor. The paper aims to evaluate the vascular network in human temporalis muscle for surgical application. Materials consisted of 30 fresh human temporalis muscle specimens. Vascular infusion was by either solution of Indian ink, lead oxide or methylmethacrylate. The vascular anatomy was analysed by stereomicroscopy, radiography and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the vascular supply of human temporalis muscle was primarily derived from 3 sources. Double veins pairing an artery was a common feature. The capillaries formed a dense interlacing network with orientation along the muscle fibres. In the coronal plane, the vessels were concentrated on the lateral and medial aspects with a reduced vascular density in the intermediate.