Facial artery

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Facial artery
Gray508.png
The arteries of the face and scalp. (External maxillary visible at bottom center.)
Gray1200.png
Outline of side of face, showing chief surface markings. (Label for "Ext. Max. Art." at bottom left.)
Details
Source external carotid artery
Branches Ascending palatine artery
Tonsillar branch
Submental artery
Glandular branches
Inferior labial artery
Superior labial artery
Lateral nasal branch
Angular artery (terminal branch)
Vein anterior facial vein, posterior facial vein
Identifiers
Latin arteria facialis,
arteria maxillaris externa
TA98 A12.2.05.020
TA2 4388
FMA 49549
Anatomical terminology

The facial artery (external maxillary artery in older texts) is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.

Contents

Structure

The facial artery arises in the carotid triangle from the external carotid artery, [1] [2] a little above the lingual artery and, sheltered by the ramus of the mandible. It passes obliquely up beneath the digastric and stylohyoid muscles, over which it arches to enter a groove on the posterior surface of the submandibular gland. [3]

It then curves upward over the body of the mandible at the antero-inferior angle of the masseter; [1] [2] passes forward and upward across the cheek to the angle of the mouth, then ascends along the side of the nose, and ends at the medial commissure of the eye, under the name of the angular artery. [4]

The facial artery is remarkably tortuous. This is to accommodate itself to neck movements such as those of the pharynx in swallowing; and facial movements such as those of the mandible, lips, and cheeks.

Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian artery. Branch of facial artery labeled Facial artery.PNG
Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian artery. Branch of facial artery labeled

Relations

In the neck, its origin is superficial, being covered by the integument, platysma, and fascia; it then passes beneath the digastric and stylohyoid muscles and part of the submandibular gland, but superficial to the hypoglossal nerve.

It lies upon the middle pharyngeal constrictor and the superior pharyngeal constrictor, the latter of which separates it, at the summit of its arch, from the lower and back part of the tonsil.

On the face, where it passes over the body of the mandible, it is comparatively superficial, lying immediately beneath the dilators of the mouth. In its course over the face, it is covered by the integument, the fat of the cheek, and, near the angle of the mouth, by the platysma, risorius, and zygomaticus major. It rests on the buccinator and levator anguli oris, and passes either over or under the infraorbital head of the levator labii superioris.

The anterior facial vein lies lateral/posterior to the artery, [2] and takes a more direct course across the face, where it is separated from the artery by a considerable interval. In the neck it lies superficial to the artery.

The branches of the facial nerve cross the artery from behind forward.

The facial artery anastomoses with (among others) the dorsal nasal artery of the internal carotid artery.

Branches

The branches of the facial artery are: [4]

Muscles

Muscles supplied by the facial artery include:

Clinical significance

The facial artery may be punctured during maxillofacial surgery, and is likely to haemorrhage significantly. [5]

Additional images

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subclavian artery</span> Major arteries of the upper thorax, below the clavicle

In human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are paired major arteries of the upper thorax, below the clavicle. They receive blood from the aortic arch. The left subclavian artery supplies blood to the left arm and the right subclavian artery supplies blood to the right arm, with some branches supplying the head and thorax. On the left side of the body, the subclavian comes directly off the aortic arch, while on the right side it arises from the relatively short brachiocephalic artery when it bifurcates into the subclavian and the right common carotid artery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digastric muscle</span> Small muscle located under the jaw in mammals

The digastric muscle is a bilaterally paired suprahyoid muscle located under the jaw. Its posterior belly is attached to the mastoid notch of temporal bone, and its anterior belly is attached to the digastric fossa of mandible; the two bellies are united by an intermediate tendon which is held in a loop that attaches to the hyoid bone. The anterior belly is innervated via the mandibular nerve, and the posterior belly is innervated via the facial nerve. It may act to depress the mandible or elevate the hyoid bone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platysma muscle</span> Human neck muscle

The platysma muscle is a superficial muscle of the human neck that overlaps the sternocleidomastoid. It covers the anterior surface of the neck superficially. When it contracts, it produces a slight wrinkling of the neck, and a "bowstring" effect on either side of the neck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stylohyoid muscle</span> Muscle

The stylohyoid muscle is one of the suprahyoid muscles. Its originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone; it inserts onto hyoid bone. It is innervated by a branch of the facial nerve. It acts draw the hyoid bone upwards and backwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Depressor anguli oris muscle</span> Facial muscle that depresses the corner of the mouth during frowning

The depressor anguli oris muscle is a facial muscle. It originates from the mandible and inserts into the angle of the mouth. It is associated with frowning, as it depresses the corner of the mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modiolus (face)</span> Chiasma of facial muscles

In facial anatomy, the modiolus is a dense, compact, mobile, fibromuscular tissue mass of facial muscles formed by the interlacing of a number of muscles just lateral to the angle of the mouth opposite the second upper premolar tooth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lingual artery</span>

The lingual artery arises from the external carotid artery between the superior thyroid artery and facial artery. It can be located easily in the tongue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supratrochlear nerve</span> Nerve of the forehead

The supratrochlear nerve is a branch of the frontal nerve, itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) from the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It provides sensory innervation to the skin of the forehead and the upper eyelid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retromandibular vein</span> Major face vein

The retromandibular vein is a major vein of the face. It is formed within the parotid gland by the confluence of the maxillary vein, and superficial temporal vein. It descends in the gland and splits into two branches upon emerging from the gland. Its anterior branch then joins the (anterior) facial vein forming the common facial vein, while its posterior branch joins the posterior auricular vein forming the external jugular vein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infraorbital artery</span>

The infraorbital artery is a small artery in the head that arises from the maxillary artery and passes through the inferior orbital fissure to enter the orbit, then passes forward along the floor of the orbit, finally exiting the orbit through the infraorbital foramen to reach the face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angular artery</span> Artery of the face

The angular artery is an artery of the face. It is the terminal part of the facial artery. It ascends to the medial angle of the eye's orbit. It is accompanied by the angular vein. It ends by anastomosing with the dorsal nasal branch of the ophthalmic artery. It supplies the lacrimal sac, the orbicularis oculi muscle, and the outer side of the nose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve</span>

The marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve arises from the facial nerve in the parotid gland at the parotid plexus. It passes anterior-ward deep to the platysma and depressor anguli oris muscles. It provides motor innervation to muscles of the lower lip and chin: the depressor labii inferioris muscle, depressor anguli oris muscle, and mentalis muscle. It communicates with the mental branch of the inferior alveolar nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submandibular triangle</span>

The submandibular triangle corresponds to the region of the neck immediately beneath the body of the mandible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carotid triangle</span>

The carotid triangle is a portion of the anterior triangle of the neck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cervical branch of the facial nerve</span> Branch of the facial nerve in the neck

The cervical branch of the facial nerve is a nerve in the neck. It is a branch of the facial nerve (VII). It supplies the platysma muscle, among other functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submental artery</span> Branch of the facial artery

The submental artery is the largest branch of the facial artery in the neck. It first runs forward under the mouth, then turns upward upon reaching the chin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facial muscles</span> Muscles of the face

The facial muscles are a group of striated skeletal muscles supplied by the facial nerve that, among other things, control facial expression. These muscles are also called mimetic muscles. They are only found in mammals, although they derive from neural crest cells found in all vertebrates. They are the only muscles that attach to the dermis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior auricular muscle</span> Muscle connectingthe epicranial aponeurosis to the helix of the ear

The anterior auricular muscle, the smallest of the three auricular muscles, is thin and fan-shaped, and its fibers are pale and indistinct. It arises from the lateral edge of the epicranial aponeurosis, and its fibers converge to be inserted into a projection on the front of the helix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canine space</span>

The canine space, is a fascial space of the head and neck. It is a thin potential space on the face, and is paired on either side. It is located between the levator anguli oris muscle inferiorly and the levator labii superioris muscle superiorly. The term is derived from the fact that the space is in the region of the canine fossa, and that infections originating from the maxillary canine tooth may spread to involve the space. Infra-orbital is derived from infra- meaning below and orbit which refers to the eye socket.

The parotid fascia is a tough fascia enclosing the parotid gland. It has a superficial layer and a deep layer.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 553 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

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