TY  - JOUR
T1  - THe blood supply of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and its clinical implications
AU  - Kierner AC, Aigner M, Zelenka I, Riedl G, Burian M
Y1  - 1999/02/01
N1  - 10.1001/archsurg.134.2.144
JO  - Archives of Surgery
SP  - 144
EP  - 147
VL  - 134
IS  - 2
N2  - Background 
    The knowledge of the exact anatomy of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle and its nerve and blood supply must be considered a basic prerequisite for its use as a pedicle muscle flap.Objective 
    To give an exact description of the courses and variability of all vessels supplying the SCM muscle.Design 
    Anatomic analysis of all arteries supplying the SCM muscle.Setting 
    The blood supply of the SCM muscle was studied by dissecting bilaterally the anterior regions of the neck of 31 perfusion-fixed human cadavers of both sexes aged 50 to 94 years (mean, 78 years).Results 
    The blood supply to the SCM muscle can be divided into 3 parts: upper, middle, and lower. The upper third of the SCM muscle was found to be constantly supplied by branches of the occipital artery. According to their courses, these branches are categorized into types 1, 2a, 2b, and 3. The middle third of the SCM muscle receives its blood supply from a branch of the superior thyroid artery (42%), the external carotid artery (23%), or branches of both (27%). In most cases, the lower third of the muscle was supplied by a branch arising from the suprascapular artery (>80%), which has not been described until now.Conclusions 
    In contrast to available data, the arterial blood supply of the lower third of the SCM muscle is constantly provided by a branch of the suprascapular artery. Since the SCM muscle flap is used in reconstructive surgery of the neck, the exact knowledge of its blood supply may help to minimize the risk of flap necrosis after surgical procedures.
SN  - 0004-0010
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archsurg.134.2.144
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.134.2.144
ER  -