Vascular anomalies of the face and neck.

Abstract

AbstractDissection of a female cadaver revealed striking vascular anomalies in facial and neck regions.The left facial artery was completely absent; its functions were assumed by two branches of the maxillary. These branches supplied structures normally supplied by them and carried blood to structures typically supplied by the facial artery and its branches. The infraorbital artery replaced the superior labial, lateral nasal and angular arteries; the buccal artery replaced the inferior labial artery.Venous drainage of the left side of the face and anterior neck regions involved chiefly a single facial vein which arose typically, crossed the mandible, entered the neck and coursed to the suprasternal space. Turning laterad it entered the subclavian vein lateral to the entrance of the internal jugular.Vascularization of the right side of the face and neck was typical.Additional anomalies involved branches of the subclavian arteries. On the left side, a vertebral artery originated from the thyrocervical trunk and gave off a small inferior thyroid artery and a much smaller muscular banch. No left ascending cervical artery was evident. A dorsal scapular artery arose fom the third part of the subclavian. On the right side, thyrocervical and costocervical trunks were present branching typically but originating in reverse mediolaterad order.All branches from the right subclavian artery, including a dorsal scapular, arose from the first part of the subclavian.