PECTORALIS MAJOR MUSCLE FREE-FLAP IN RAT MODEL

The rat pectoralis muscle can serve as a vascularized, innervated musc le flap model. The muscle, consisting of superficialis and profundus p ortions, is supplied by separate neurovascular systems. The vessels to pectoralis profundus (averaging 0.3 mm in diameter) can be taken in c ontinuity with the axillary vessels (averaging 11 mm in diameter), whi ch are used for transplantation. The profundus portion of muscle weigh ed average of 1.8 g, and the average pedicle length was 0.9 cm. Nine o f 11 transplanted muscles were viable, with intact circulation at 72 h ours. An example of muscle transplantation for tissue defect coverage was attempted. The pectoralis profundus transplant was technically rel iable, and the muscle bulk and contour could allow biochemical and fun ctional studies. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.