Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the anatomy of the perforating vessels irrigating the skin of the medial aspect of the thigh and originating from the secondary vascular pedicle of the gracilis muscle. METHODS: We dissected 33 thighs from cadavers of both sexes to record and analyze the characteristics of the blood vessels irrigating the gracilis muscle in the middle third of the thigh. RESULTS: All thighs (100%) had a secondary vascular pedicle in the intermuscular septum between the gracilis and vastus medialis/sartorius muscles, with branches irrigating the overlying skin on the medial aspect. The pedicle presented an arterial diameter ranging from 1.3 to 4.6 mm (mean: 2.3 mm) and a length ranging from 28 to 84 mm (mean: 50.6 mm). In 87.8% of the cases, the pedicle irrigated the gracilis muscle and presented vessels to the overlying skin. CONCLUSION: Based on the data found, we conclude that it is feasible to obtain a reliable flap from the medial aspect of the middle third of the thigh.