Unusual branching pattern and termination of facial artery and its clinical implications for facial operations

The facial artery is the main artery of the face and variations in its origin and its branching pattern have been documented. We report herein multiple facial artery branch variations in the face. A large posterior (premasseteric) branch originated from the left facial artery and coursed upwards beh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Jornal vascular brasileiro 2019, Vol.18, p.e20190021
Main Authors: Padur, Ashwini Aithal, Kumar, Naveen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS
Case Report
face
facial artery
facial surgery
PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE
SURGERY
transverse facial artery
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Summary:The facial artery is the main artery of the face and variations in its origin and its branching pattern have been documented. We report herein multiple facial artery branch variations in the face. A large posterior (premasseteric) branch originated from the left facial artery and coursed upwards behind the main trunk of the facial artery. This artery presented with a straight course and was closely related to the anterior border of the masseter. The branch then terminated by supplying the adjacent connective tissue below the parotid duct. It was also observed that the facial artery was very thick and tortuous and terminated as the superior labial artery. Knowledge of this variation is of great clinical significance in facial operations, especially for maxillofacial surgeons and plastic surgeons, because it forms the anatomical basis for the facial artery musculo-mucosal flap.
ISSN:1677-5449
1677-7301
1677-7301
DOI:10.1590/1677-5449.190021