Reappraisal of the inferior epigastric flap: a new neurovascular flap model in the rat.
An anatomic, histologic, and electrophysiologic study was carried out in order to determine the distribution and cutaneous sensory territory of the epigastric nerve in the rat. Results for nerve staining (Sihler's method) and electrophysiologic nerve mapping indicate that the neurosome of the epigastric nerve has a different autonomy than the vascular territory of the inferior epigastric artery. Based on these findings, an experimental model for neurovascular free-tissue transfer is proposed.
Hirigoyen
M B
MB
Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, N.Y., USA.
Rhee
J S
JS
Weisz
D J
DJ
Zhang
W X
WX
Urken
M L
ML
Weinberg
H
H
D000005:Abdomen / Q000294:innervation*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*