[Comparison of the Latissimus dorsi insertions on the iliac crest in chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and in man]. / Étude comparative des insertions du Latissimus dorsi sur la crête iliaque chez l'homme et dans le chimpanzé (Pan troglodytes).

INTRODUCTION: Comparing to other primates, one of the most important specificities of the human anatomy are consequences of bipedalism. Although bone consequences are well known (lumbar lordosis, horizontal position of the foramen magnum, lengthening of the lower limbs, reduction of the pelvis, specialization of the foot), consequences of our locomotion on the Latissimus dorsi are still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One dissection of a chimpanzee Latissimus dorsi (Pan troglodytes) has been performed and compared to 30 human Latissimus dorsi dissections (10 fresh cadavers and 20 formoled cadavers). In each dissection, the existence of direct muscular insertions on the iliac crest has been investigated and the constitution of the thoracolumbar fascia has been described. RESULTS: In chimpanzee dissection, a muscular direct insertion of the Latissimus dorsi was present on the iliac crest of 9 cm long. The TLF was made of the superficial and the deep fascias of the Latissimus dorsi and the superficial fascia of the erector spinae muscles which was deeper. In man, there was no direct muscular insertion of the Latissimus dorsi in 90 % of cases, the TLF was constituted the same way. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the Latissimus dorsi has been separated from the iliac crest in man during the evolution because of the permanent bipedalism and that it stayed inserted on the iliac crest in chimpanzee because of the brachiation.

[Anatomic study of the location of the thoracoacromial pedicle. Application to the pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap]. / Etude anatomique de la localisation du pédicule thoracoacromial. Intérêt dans les lambeaux musculocutanés de grand pectoral.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The thoracoacromial pedicle is the major pedicle of the pectoralis major flap which is still frequently used in cervicofacial loss of substances reconstruction. The classical landmark of this pedicle is the intersection between the acromioxyphoid line and the medioclavicular line. The aim of this study was to determine the exact location of the pedicle compared to the classical landmark in case of narrow pectoralis major flap. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty-one pectoralis major pedicles have been dissected from 12 fresh cadavers. For each dissection have been determined: the medial or lateral situation of the pedicle compared to the intersection of the medioclavicular line and the acromioxyphoid line and the distance between these two points, the angle between the real axis of the pedicle and the acromioxyphoid line. RESULTS: The pedicle was lateral to the acromioxyphoid line in 19 cases, in close contact to the lateral border of the muscle. CONCLUSION: A narrow pectoralis major flap has to be harvested between the acromioxyphoid line and the lateral border of the pectoralis major.