The anatomical basis of the Abbe flap

Objectives: Objective of the study were 1) to determine the course, includi ng specific relationship to the vermilion border, free margin of the lip, a nd orbicularis oris and number of the superior and inferior labial arteries , and 2) to discuss the relevance of this anatomy to design of the Abbe fla p. Study Design: Detailed anatomical dissections of the mid and lower face of injected cadaver heads. Methods: Sixteen superior labial arteries and 15 inferior labial arteries in 9 adult cadaver heads ranging in age from 41 t o g0 years were studied. Results: The superior labial artery was a single v essel in all cases. At the oral commissure the vessel was superior to the v ermilion border in 94% of the dissections. At the midline the vessel was wi thin the vermilion border in 75% of dissections. The vessel was found withi n the orbicularis oris in 19% of dissections and between the mucosa and the orbicularis oris in 81% of dissections. The inferior labial artery was a s ingle vessel in all dissections. Its course was variable in position relati ve to the vermilion border and to its take-off from the facial artery. In t he central portion of the lip the vessel was found within the orbicularis o ris in 13% of dissections and between the mucosa and the orbicularis oris i n 87% of dissections. Conclusions: The superior labial artery is found with in 10 mm of the free margin of the upper lip. The inferior labial, artery i s variable in its course, varying up to 15 mm from the free margin of the l ower lip.