title: [Applied anatomy study on the reversed submental island flap].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide anatomic data for clinical use of reversed submental island flap in reconstruction of buccal and facial defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty cadavers with 40 sides of head and neck which were fixed by formalin and perfused by red emulsion, 6 fresh cadavers which were perfused by coloring agent were dissected, observed and measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diameter of the submental artery, the superior lip artery and the inferior lip artery at their origins were respectively (1.42 +/- 0.30) mm (x +/- s, same at below), (1.34 +/- 0.35) mm and (1.34 +/- 0.27) mm respectively. The realistic distance from the origin of inferior and superior lip arteries to the origin of submental artery were (50.13 +/- 13.79) mm and (92.09 8.73) mm, respectively. However, the straight distances from the origin of inferior and superior lip arteries to the origin of submental artery were (35.19 +/- 9.18) mm, (64.99 +/- 5.24) mm, respectively. There were rich anastomoses between both facial arteries, and the facial arteries also anastomosed richly with the ophthalmic artery and the superficial temporal artery. On the marginal mandibular plane, the facial vein ran closely with the artery, the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve crossed superficially to the facial blood vessels; superior to this plane, the vein ran 1 cm behind the artery. The buccal branches of the facial nerve crossed superficially to the facial vein and ran into the muscles behind or across the facial artery. The facial vein anastomosed richly with the ophthalmic vein and the maxillary vein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is anatomic feasibility for the reconstruction of buccal and facial defects by using pedicled submental reversed island flap. The reversing point of the flap ought to be at the cheilion plane or inferiorly. Anatomy, regional
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surrgery, Yuannan Provincial Tumor Hospital, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Guo-ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-jiang
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Shao-chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zong-liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000718:Anatomy, Regional; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002680:Chin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*