THE BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE NIPPLE-AREOLAR COMPLEX (A LITERATURE REVIEW)

Objective – clarification of the nipple-areolar complex’s (NAC) angioarchitecture.

Materials and methods: search for articles which include the description of the breast angioarchitecture, the description of the several NAC’s blood supply sources and substantiated anatomic data presentation was performed by continuous sampling method in scientific databases. In addition, the information in available anatomic and surgery books was analyzed without special criteria for the selection of used medical literature.

Results. The NAC’s vascularity was grouped in three systems: the medial, which consists of superficial branches of a. thoracica interna and a venous system, which flows into v. thoracica interna system, the central deep system, which consists of perforators of a. thoracoacromialis and aa. intercostales, and the lateral vascular system, consisting of vessels which variably originate from a. thoracica lateralis, a. axillaris and a. thoracoacromialis.

Conclusions. The using of the stable medial vascular system is anatomically substantiated. The central vascular system can be used as additive blood supply source. The lateral system can be used only after pre-examination.