Compound flap. This consists of multiple and often diverse tissue components that are somehow joined together in a manner that will better allow their simultaneous transfer for a more efficient reconstruction. It can be further clarified into two major classes according to their intrinsic pattern of circulation.

Composite flap. This kind of compound flap has a solitary source of vascularization to all component parts, where this cannot be separated so all parts remain dependent on each other to insure viability. The traditional musculocutaneous or fasciocutaneous flaps are prime examples of this ubiquitous form of compound flap.

Combined flap. This kind of compound flap has multiple sources of vascularization, often discrete to each tissue component. The components of combined flaps can consist of any permutation of similar or non-similar tissues, which may be skin only, skin and muscle, muscle and bone, etc. The combined flap, in turn, can be further subdivided into two major subtypes that typically differ according to the physical relationship of their tissue components yet remain similar in that each of their parts retains an independent blood supply.