The serratus anterior muscle in the rat is supplied by the serratus di
vision of thoracodorsal vessels, in a pattern similar to man [2]. The
serratus anterior muscles were transferred to the groin area as a free
muscle flap in 17 rats and as a free muscle graft in 13 rats. In the
free muscle flap group, the serratus anterior muscles of 8 of 10 rats
survived; histological examination showed them to be viable and the va
scular anastomoses were patent at the 30th day. In the free muscle gra
ft group, all of the muscle grafts became necrotic. As a result, it is
concluded that the microvascular transfer of serratus anterior muscle
s in rats is a useful small animal model for microsurgical laboratory
training of clinical free flap transfers and also for performing pharm
acological and biochemical studies in transplanted muscle.