Force Characteristics of the Rat Sternomastoid Muscle Reinnervated with End-to-End Nerve Repair

Figure 1

The SM nerve 3 months after transection and repair with EEA. Photograph from an open neck of a rat who underwent EEA procedure following transection of the SM nerve on the right side. After the SM was retracted medially by two sutures, its innervating nerve was visualized between the SM and cleidomastoid (CM) belies. The SM nerve was transected and both nerve cut ends were united with two 10-0 nylon sutures (white arrow). H: hyoid bone; SH: sternohyoid muscle.