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Branching patterns of the facial nerve and its communication with the auriculotemporal nerve

Authors
 H. H. Kwak  ;  H. D. Park  ;  H. J. Kim  ;  S. H. Han  ;  K. S. Koh  ;  K. S. Hu  ;  K. H. Youn 
Citation
 SURGICAL AND RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY, Vol.26(6) : 494-500, 2004 
Journal Title
SURGICAL AND RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY
ISSN
 0930-1038 
Issue Date
2004
MeSH
Adult ; Aged ; Cadaver ; Cranial Nerves/anatomy & histology ; Dissection ; Facial Nerve/anatomy & histology* ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Conduction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trigeminal Nerve/anatomy & histology* ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve/anatomy & histology*
Keywords
Auriculotemporal nerve ; Facial nerve ; Parotid gland ; Surgical anatomy
Abstract
This study examines the anatomic relationships and variability of the facial nerve trunk and its branches, with emphasis on the intraparotid connections between the divisions. Microdissections were performed on 30 Korean half-heads, and the facial nerve trunks and branches were exposed. The average depth of the stylomastoid foramen from the skin surface was 21.0±3.1 mm, and the distance between the stylomastoid foramen and the bifurcation of the temporofacial (upper) and cervicofacial (lower) divisions was 13.0±2.8 mm. In 26 of 30 dissections (86.7%), the facial nerve trunk bifurcated into two main divisions, and a trifurcation pattern was seen in the other four cases (13.3%). According to the origin of the buccal branches, we classified the branching patterns of the facial nerve into four categories. In type I (13.8% of cases), the buccal branches arose from the two main divisions of the trunk but not from other branches of the facial nerve. In type II (44.8% of cases), the buccal branches arising from the two main divisions were interconnected with the zygomatic branch. In type III (17.3% of cases), the marginal mandibular branch sent nerve twigs to the buccal branch, which originated from the upper and lower divisions. In type IV (17.3% of cases), the nerve twigs from the zygomatic and marginal mandibular branches merged to the buccal branch arising from the two main divisions. Communications between the facial and auriculotemporal nerve branches, which are known as “communicating auriculotemporal nerves,” were observed in 28 of the 30 cases (93.3%). Familiarity with these common variations in the facial anatomy provides useful information for the surgeon in careful dissection, preservation of the facial nerve, and complete removal of the tumors in parotidectomies.
Full Text
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00276-004-0259-6
DOI
10.1007/s00276-004-0259-6
Appears in Collections:
2. College of Dentistry (치과대학) > Dept. of Oral Biology (구강생물학교실) > 1. Journal Papers
Yonsei Authors
Kim, Hee Jin(김희진) ORCID logo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1139-6261
Hu, Kyung Seok(허경석) ORCID logo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9048-3805
URI
https://ir.ymlib.yonsei.ac.kr/handle/22282913/111253
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