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Figure 2. Color and spectral Doppler assessment of the intramuscular DIEA and DIEV. Representative images demonstrate the DIEA and DIEV as they course within the rectus muscle. Top panels (A and B) show color Doppler identification of the DIEA (left) and DIEV (right), with clear differentiation of arterial and venous flow based on direction and color encoding. Bottom panels (C and D) include corresponding spectral Doppler waveforms: the DIEA demonstrates a pulsatile arterial waveform with defined systolic peaks, while the DIEV shows low-velocity, non-pulsatile venous flow. These images highlight the ability of CDU to characterize intramuscular vessel course, confirm vessel identity, and assess flow dynamics during DIEP flap planning. Original figure created by the authors. Images have not been previously published. Figure 2 contains illustrative ultrasound images acquired by the first author during self-scanning; no patient images are included. CDU: Color Doppler ultrasound; DIEA: deep inferior epigastric artery; DIEP: deep inferior epigastric perforator; DIEV: deep inferior epigastric vein; ED: end-diastolic velocity; G: gain; HR: heart rate; PI: pulsatility index; PS: peak systolic velocity; PW: pulsed-wave Doppler; RI: resistive index; S/D: systolic-to-diastolic ratio; SV: sample volume size; SVD: sample volume depth; TAMAX: time-averaged maximum velocity; TAMEAN: time-averaged mean velocity; bpm: beats per minute.