Anatomic study of the musculus longus capitis flap.
OBJECTIVE
To clearly delineate the anatomy of the musculus longus capitis, determine its clinical applications for reconstruction surgery, and provide a safer surgical method of developing the longus capitis muscle flap.


METHODS
Anatomical investigations were performed in seven adult cadavers (five cadavers for gross anatomy and two for transparent specimen preparation) with respect to the location, morphology, arterial supply, and innervation of the musculus longus capitis, as well as its spatial relationship with the cervical sympathetic trunk, superior cervical ganglion, carotid sheath, and other surrounding structures.


RESULTS
The musculus longus capitis is located anterior to the C1-6 vertebrae, segmentally supplied by branches of the ascending cervical artery, innervated by the C1-5 nerve, and spatially close to the cervical sympathetic trunk, superior cervical ganglion, and carotid sheath. These anatomic findings indicate that the development of a cranial or caudal pedicled longus capitis muscle flap is feasible.


CONCLUSIONS
The musculus longus capitis can be developed into a cranial or caudal pedicled flap for repair of head and neck defects with negligible morbidity of the donor site.
Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Xiang-Yu
XY
Zhang
Department of Breast Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Ting-Ting
TT
Ma
Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Lei
L
Liu
Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Ning-Bei
NB
Yin
Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. zhaozhenmin0098@vip.sina.com.
Zhen-Min
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0321-7702
ZM
Zhao
D002102:Cadaver; D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000601:surgery*
Anatomy; Flap; Musculus longus capitis; Neck; Soft tissues