An anatomical study of the blood supply of the soleus muscle in humans

AbstractIntroductionThe soleus muscle is a powerful plantar flexor of the ankle joint and receives its blood supply from several different sources.AimThis study was done to describe the distribution of the arterial supply of the soleus muscle.Materials and methodsThe study was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria. Forty limbs were dissected, which included specimens from both male and female cadavers. The pattern of arterial supply of the soleus muscle and the distribution of the perforators were studied.ResultsThe soleus muscle is supplied by perforators of the popliteal, posterior tibial and peroneal arteries, the posterior tibial artery gave 38.80% of total perforators while the peroneal artery gave 33.30% of total perforators and the popliteal artery gave 27.80% of total perforators. Perforators of popliteal artery were larger; 12.9±2.07cm in length and 2.55±0.214mm in diameter while those of the posterior tibial artery had a length of 5.1±0.99cm and a diameter of 1.93±0.25mm and perforators of the peroneal artery had a length of 3.8±0.98cm and a diameter of 1.49±1.03mm.ConclusionThe soleus muscle is richly supplied by many arterial pedicles and can be used safely as a free flap, hemisoleus flap or composite flap to cover defects in the lower limb