Vascular pedicles of infrahyoid muscles: an anatomical study.

This study was designed to determine the entering sites of vascular pedicles of the infrahyoid muscles. The neck regions of 12 cadavers were investigated bilaterally. The vascular pedicles of the infrahyoid muscles (except the thyrohyoid and inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle) were dissected and measurements taken with a caliper in reference to the attachments of the muscles. For the sternothyroid muscle, two vascular pedicles were found bilaterally in all cadavers. Two vascular pedicles were found bilaterally for the sternohyoid muscle in 11 cadavers; in one cadaver the inferior vascular pedicle was absent bilaterally. One vascular pedicle was found bilaterally for the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle in all cadavers. These data regarding the vascular pedicles of the infrahyoid muscles might be useful for preserving the vascular supply of the infrahyoid muscles during flap preparation. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.