Blood supply of subcutaneous tissue in the leg and its clinical application.

The vascular anatomy of the subcutaneous or adipose layer of the leg is described. The major arteries of the distal thigh and leg were injected with either a colored latex or an India ink and gelatin mixture to demonstrate the principal sources of blood supply to the skin and the superficial tissues of the leg. Microdissection and the technique of Spalteholz for dehydrating and clearing the tissues (rendering them transparent) facilitated the study of the direct and indirect arterial branches which form the three principal networks: the deep fascia, the subcutaneous or adipose layer, and the skin or the dermoepidermic layer. The results are of practical importance since the fascio-subcutaneous tissue layer can be used as a flap for covering soft tissue defects of the leg.