title: The anatomy of the subscapular-thoracodorsal arterial system: study of 100 cadaver dissections.
abstract: The results of 100 cadaver dissections of the subscapular-thoracodorsal arterial system are presented. These results confirm the anatomical reliability of the thoracodorsal artery and report the consistent presence of a branch of the thoracodorsal artery to the serratus anterior muscle. The branches to serratus anterior were of sufficient dimensions to support either a latissimus dorsi flap or a serratus anterior flap. A direct cutaneous branch from the thoracodorsal artery to the skin of the axilla was identified in only 47% of the dissections.
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013909:Thorax / Q000098:blood supply*