[Vascularization and innervation of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and its cutaneous covering: anatomical bases for its use in plastic surgery].

The commonest use of the sternocleido-mastoid muscle (SCM) and its cutaneous recovering in plastic surgery remains the rotation flap. With the improvement in microsurgery, it is tempting to anticipate the free transfer of the muscle with vascular and nervous anastomosis. 40 SCM muscles from fresh human adult cadavers were studied. The authors stress the richness of the arterial blood supply of the upper portion of the muscle. They give precise details about its venous drainage, the arterial anastomosis, the blood supply of the superficial cutaneous planes and the motor and sensory innervation.