fig7

Figure 7. Harvest of lateral thoracic artery flap. The rabbit's head is located on the left. (a) The pedicle is visible throughout the skin after shaving. The pivot point of the flap (green circle) is situated at the latero-inferior border of the pectoralis muscle, where the lateral thoracic artery appears superficially; (b) view on the lateral thoracic artery and vein within the panniculus carnosus, coursing over the thorax (left) and abdomen (right). The lateral thoracic artery anastomoses with the superficial inferior epigastric artery at the level of the third nipple; (c) opening of fascia and panniculus carnosus distally; (d) elevation of the flap from the underlying muscles; (e) heterotopic prelamination of trachea within the lateral thoracic artery flap