Facial artery

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Facial artery
posterior facial vein
Identifiers
Latinarteria facialis,
arteria maxillaris externa
TA98A12.2.05.020
TA24388
FMA49549
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.

Structure

The facial artery arises in the

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

cheeks
.

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,

stylohyoid muscles and part of the submandibular gland, but superficial to the hypoglossal nerve
.

It lies upon 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

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

  • Diagram showing the origins of the main branches of the carotid arteries.
    Diagram showing the origins of the main branches of the carotid arteries.
  • Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.
    Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.
  • Facial artery
    Facial artery

See also

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 553 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-323-02752-6
    , retrieved 2020-11-14
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-323-35876-7
    , retrieved 2020-11-14
  3. ISBN 978-0-7020-6056-4
    , retrieved 2020-11-14
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7020-4351-2
    , retrieved 2020-11-14
  5. ISBN 978-1-4160-4220-4
    , retrieved 2020-11-14

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Facial artery.
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