THE ARTERIAL BASIS OF PHARYNGEAL FLAPS

The arterial basis of pharyngeal flaps is unknown. Injection and disse ction studies have been used in 41 adult human cadavers to study the a rterial supply of pharyngoplasties in current use. Superiorly based po sterior pharyngeal flaps are ''random'' in nature, inferiorly based po sterior pharyngeal flaps may include an ''axial'' vessel, laterally ba sed posterior pharyngeal flaps will include an ''axial'' vessel, and l aterally based ''sphincter'' pharyngoplasties, although supplied segme ntally, will contain an ''axial'' vessel if raised up to but not beyon d the upper pole of the tonsil.