Annals of plastic surgery
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate cutaneous blood flow in the human body to better establish normal flow ranges and to determine whether the location, side of the body, sex, and age affect the flow range at seven different sites. From March 1993 to February 1994 a Periflux system 4001 laser Doppler flowmeter was used to measure the cutaneous microflow circulation of 1,680 selected points in 120 volunteers. The mean normal cutaneous blood flow of 120 volunteers was between 4 and 9 perfusion units (PU) except in the head, neck, hand, and foot. ⋯ The group of subjects in their sixties proved to have the lowest cutaneous blood flow-32% less than the teenagers. Gender differences were not noted. There were no significant differences in blood flow in regard to the side of the body.