Basic vascular anatomy and the reimplantation of the amputated hand through the palm.

Thirty adult upper extremities were used to study the blood vessels of the hand by angiography, cross-sectional measurement and operative microscopic dissection. The arteries in the middle segment of the palm are arranged in three planes, while in the upper or lower segment there are two planes only. The division of the territories of the radial and ulnar arteries are not same in the three different layers. There are three main anastomotic pathways between the radial and ulnar arteries in the radial-ulnar direction, while in the palmar-dorsal direction there are three anastomotic zones between the palmar and dorsal planes. According to the rate of appearance, sources, cross-sectional area, irrigation territories and anastomoses of the arteries in the three segments, the clinical significance in the reimplantation of the amputated hand through the palm has been discussed.