The facial artery

Abstract

The facial artery is the major vessel supplying blood to the face so its location and course are very important for the safe manipulation of both surgical and non‐surgical interventions. This study documents current anatomical information about the facial artery and its tributaries. The terminology of the facial artery tributaries was revisited with reference to the Terminologica Anatomica and novel nomenclature was suggested with anatomical features. The tributaries to the lower lip (inferior labial artery), labiomental region (horizontal and vertical labiomental artery), upper lip (superior labial artery), nose (inferior and lateral alar artery and nasal septal artery), angular and ocular region (angular artery and detoured branch) and the course, layers and location of the facial artery main trunk were revisited with contemporary anatomical studies. The facial artery and its tributaries have close topographical connections to the facial expression muscles, nasolabial groove, and vermilion border, and these also distinguish facial landmarks comprising the cheilion, stomion, and gonion. Interestingly, in contrast to previous descriptions, some terminal branches did not take a straight course but a detoured course. The angular artery was connected to the ophthalmic artery branches and in some cases did not originate from the facial artery. Vascular complications of the facial artery tributaries are frequently seen in the angular, dorsum of the nose, tip of the nose, and glabellar region. This detailed review focusing on facial arterial topography in the various areas of the face would help to enhance quality of treatment. Clin. Anat. 31:99–108, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation of facial artery course variations and depth by Doppler ultrasonography

“…In 2014, Yang et al reported that in 93.3% the branch of the FA proceeded around the NLF and was located 3.2 ± 4.5 mm and 13.5 ± 5.4 mm lateral to the nose alar and oral commissure, respectively. Also, the detoured branch stretched along the lower edge of the orbicularis oculi muscle 27 …”

Two cases of combined anatomical variations: maxillofacial trunk, vertebral, posterior communicating and anterior cerebral atresia, linguofacial and labiomental trunks

“…The anatomy of the FA was recently reviewed, being documented that the inferior labial a. it either branches at the cheilion and courses long the vermilion border of the inferior lip, or it branches below the cheilion and courses along the labiomental crease as an horizontal labiomental artery [17], such as in the Case #2 reported here. The inferior labial artery and the horizontal labiomental artery are the main arteries used in the lower lip pedicle [18].…”

Early ultrasound for diagnosis and treatment of vascular adverse events with hyaluronic acid fillers

“…The face has an extensive vascularity with numerous communicating branches between both direct and indirect linking vessels in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes. 39,40 These communicating branches consist of 2 quite distinct and different types of arteries. The first type of interconnections is less frequent and consists of vessels that are constant in caliber: the true anastomoses.…”