Temporalis muscle vasculature directly derived of the middle meningeal artery: a case report and review

Anat Sci Int. 2021 Jun;96(3):478-480. doi: 10.1007/s12565-020-00592-6. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

Abstract

Pedicled temporalis muscular flap is a common procedure nowadays in reconstructive head and neck surgery, especially for oral or orbital cavity defects. We present a case of temporalis muscle and skull base dissection of a seventy-year-old fresh female cadaver with single temporal muscle vessels directly derived of the middle meningeal artery throughout the calvaria, therefore jeopardizing the harvest of the flap, which has never been described to our knowledge. Such a variation must be known of the reconstructive surgeon to plan the ideal reconstruction procedure.

Keywords: Anatomical variation; Middle meningeal artery; Muscular pedicled flap; Temporal fossa; Temporalis muscle.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Meningeal Arteries / anatomy & histology*
  • Skull Base / anatomy & histology*
  • Temporal Muscle / blood supply*