Abstract
Background and Objectives: Vascular variations appear as morphologically distinct patterns of blood diverging from the most commonly observed vessel patterns. The facial artery is considered to be the main vessel for supplying blood to the anterior part of the face. An anatomical understanding of the facial artery, its course, its topography, and its branches is important in medical and dental practice (especially in neck and face surgery), and is also essential for radiologists to be able to interpret vascular imaging in the face following angiography of the region. A profound knowledge of the arteries in the region will aid in minimizing the risks to the patient. Materials and Methods: In our publication a narrative literature review and a case report are presented. Results: A rare case of a facial artery pattern has been described anatomically for the first time with respect to its course and branching. This variation was found on the left side of a 60-year-old male corpse during anatomical dissection. The anterior branch of the facial artery arched in the direction of the labial angle, and there divided into the inferior and superior labial arteries. At the same time, the posterior branch coursed vertically and superficially to the masseter muscle. It here gave off the premasseteric branch, and continued towards the nose, where it ran below the levator labii superioris and the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscles and terminated at the dorsum nasi. Conclusions: Our review of the literature and the case report add to knowledge on the facial artery with respect to its topographical anatomy and its branching and termination patterns, as well as the areas of supply. An exact knowledge of individual facial artery anatomy may play an important role in the planning of flaps or tumor excisions due to the differing vascularization and can also help to prevent artery injuries during aesthetic procedures such as filler and botulinum toxin injections.
Highlights
The facial artery is a main artery supplying the facial region [1,2,3,4]. It is typically described as a branch of the external carotid artery, where it may form trunks with the lingual and superior thyroid or with the maxillary artery [5]
In its further regular course it crosses the mandible anterior to the masseter muscle and ascends in direction to the nose, where it ends in variable forms between the lower lip and the medial angle of the eye [10,11]
A narrative review of the literature revealed considerable variations in the facial artery with respect its branching patterns. In this case report an apparently exceptional division of the facial artery into an anterior and posterior main branch is anatomically described for the first time
Summary
The facial artery is a main artery supplying the facial region [1,2,3,4] It is typically described as a branch of the external carotid artery, where it may form trunks with the lingual and superior thyroid or (in rare cases) with the maxillary artery [5]. A narrative review of the literature revealed considerable variations in the facial artery with respect its branching patterns In this case report an apparently exceptional division of the facial artery into an anterior and posterior main branch is anatomically described for the first time. Conclusions: Our review of the literature and the case report add to knowledge on the facial artery with respect to its topographical anatomy and its branching and termination patterns, as well as the areas of supply. An exact knowledge of individual facial artery anatomy may play an important role in the planning of flaps or tumor excisions due to the differing vascularization and can help to prevent artery injuries during aesthetic procedures such as filler and botulinum toxin injections
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