Anatomical study of the arterial blood supply of the skin of the lower leg

Abstract

The arteries leaving the intermuscular fissures of the lower leg form six constant rows. Two further vascular groups emerge from the lateral and the medial heads of the gastrocnemius muscle. The vessels form a fine epifascial network, the radial and longitudinal meshes of which anastomose together. The epifascia1 network is complemented by a weaker, subfascial one. The arteries can be subdivided into cutaneous, musculocutaneous, and cutaneomuscular groups, corresponding to their supplying areas. A significant difference in vessel pattern could not be found between the left and the right lower leg of the same person. The different areas of supply are constant in the middle one-third of the lower leg, but vary considerably in the upper one-third and moderately in the lower one-third. The borders of the different areas show interlocking patterns.