BASIC ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATION OF SEMITENDINOSUS AND THE LONG HEAD OFBICEPS FEMORIS MUSCLE FOR THEIR POSSIBLE USE IN ELECTRICALLY STIMULATED NEOSPHINCTER FORMATION

Anal neosphincter formation with electrically stimulated gracilis musc le is used increasingly for the surgical treatment of fecal incontinen ce. An alternative to gracilis might be of interest if this muscle is not available. 30 semitendinosus muscles and 15 long heads of biceps f emoris were investigated on human cadavers. In particular, the nerve a nd vascular supply of these muscles was studied, both representing bas ic factors for muscle transposition. The long head of biceps femoris m . was found to receive its dominant vascular supply from the first and second perforating artery and its nerve supply from one motor branch out of the sciatic nerve, both as described in literature, The examina tion of semitendinosus m., however, revealed new anatomical aspects in its vascular supply. In all cases semitendinosus m. was found to rece ive dominant vascular pedicles from the medial circumflex femoral arte ry close to the ischial tuberosity and the second perforating artery. The nerve supply consisted of two motor branches out of the sciatic ne rve, Both muscles fulfilled several basic criterias for transposition to the anus. However, regarding these requirements, semitendinosus off ered distinct advantages in comparison with the long head of biceps fe moris. Due to its vascular and nerve topography, semitendinosus seems suitable to serve as an alternative to gracilis.