凡是涉及一个脏器基本结构的研究，不论是大体的、显微镜的、分子的、基因水平或功能状态的研究，都属于临床外科中的基础研究范畴。解剖学研究虽然是外科临床基础研究中最古老的项目，但是随着新科技和临床外科学的发展，又从未间断地添加新的研究内容。例如当前的可视化人体的研究便是个突出的例子。肝、胆管血循环的研究在当代的胆道外科学和移植外科学中占有重要的位置, 而上世纪50年代初期的肝内管道解剖学研究，奠定了现代肝脏外科的基础。
ObjectiveTo summarize the present status and progress of vascular anatomy and preoperative design technology of the anterolateral thigh flap. MethodsThe relative researches focused on vascular anatomy and preoperative design technology of the anterolateral thigh flap were extensively reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. ResultsVascular anatomy of the anterolateral thigh flap has been reported by numerous researchers, but perforators' location, origin, course, and the variation of the quantity have been emphasized. Meanwhile, the variation of descending branch, oblique branch, and lateral circumflex femoral artery has also been widely reported. Preoperative design technology of the anterolateral thigh flap includes hand-held Doppler, Color Doppler, CT angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography, digital subtraction angiography, and digital technology, among which the hand-held Doppler is most widely used, and CTA is the most ideal, but each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. ConclusionThere is multiple variation of vascular anatomy of the anterolateral thigh flap. Though all kinds of preoperative design technologies can offer strong support to operation of anterolateral thigh flap, a simple, quick, precise, and noninvasive technology is the direction of further research.