Horizontal Branch of the Supraorbital Nerve and Temporal Branch of the Facial Nerve

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe anatomical detail of the course and territory of the horizontal branch of the supraorbital nerve, which connects with temporal branch of the facial nerve. Eighteen hemifaces of Korean cadavers (11 male, 7 female) fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution were dissected. All 18 specimens had horizontal branch of the supraorbital nerve. The horizontal branch emerges out of the supraorbital foramen, runs upward about 12 mm, and then turns laterally at an angle of 104.7 degrees toward the end of the eyebrow. The average number of horizontal branches was 1.7 +/- 0.8. The skin boundary supplied by the horizontal branch was a circle with a diameter of 30 mm. The center was located at 30 mm lateral to the supraorbital foramen and 12 mm above. Grossly, the horizontal branch of the supraorbital nerve connected with the temporal branch of the facial nerve in 8 of 18 (44%) specimens. Microscopically, both nerve branches had common epineurium, but the perineuria were separated. The horizontal branch of the supraorbital nerve is in touch with the temporal branch of the facial nerve, and there are actual connections between them in 44% of cases.