(latisimus dorsi flap) a technique used in breast surgery to reconstruct the breast following a mastectomy. The latisimus dorsi muscle is freed up from its position in the back and moved around to be placed over the pectoralis major while still attached to its blood supply.
A section of tissue (usually skin) separated from underlying structures but still attached at its distal end by a PEDICLE through which it receives its blood supply. The free end may then be sutured into a new position to cover a defect caused by trauma or excision of diseased tissue. A free ?ap involves detachment of a section of tissue, often including bone and muscle, to a distant site where the artery and vein supplying it are anastomosed to adjacent vessels and the tissue is sutured into place. (See RECONSTRUCTIVE (PLASTIC) SURGERY.)... flap
transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous *flap: a piece of tissue (skin, muscle, and fat) dissected from the abdomen, between the umbilicus and pubis, and used to reconstruct the breast after mastectomy. The flap of tissue is dissected along with its blood supply and moved into its new position on this pedicle.... tram flap
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