The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap: anatomic basis and clinical application.

Based on the dissection of 20 fresh cadavers, the authors have detailed further the vascular anatomy of the thoracodorsal artery and its cutaneous perforator vessels. The thoracodorsal artery showed a constant bifurcation into a horizontal branch and a lateral branch, located on the deep surface of the latissimus dorsi muscle 4 cm (range, 3-6 cm) distal to the inferior scapular border and 2.5 cm (range, 1-4 cm) medial to the lateral free margin of the muscle.