Facial artery

The facial artery (external maxillary artery in older texts) is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.

Facial artery
The arteries of the face and scalp. (External maxillary visible at bottom center.)
Outline of side of face, showing chief surface markings. (Label for "Ext. Max. Art." at bottom left.)
Details
Sourceexternal carotid artery
BranchesAscending palatine artery
Tonsillar branch
Submental artery
Glandular branches
Inferior labial artery
Superior labial artery
Lateral nasal branch
Angular artery (terminal branch)
Veinanterior facial vein, posterior facial vein
Identifiers
Latinarteria facialis,
arteria maxillaris externa
TA98A12.2.05.020
TA24388
FMA49549
Anatomical terminology

Structure

The facial artery arises in the carotid triangle from the external carotid artery,[1][2] a little above the lingual artery and, sheltered by the ramus of the mandible. It passes obliquely up beneath the digastric and 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 pharynx in deglutition; and facial movements such as those of the mandible, lips, and 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, platysma, and fascia; it then passes beneath the digastric and stylohyoid muscles and part of the submandibular gland, but superficial to the hypoglossal nerve.

It lies upon the middle pharyngeal constrictor and 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 platysma, risorius, and zygomaticus major. It rests on 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
  • Mandible. Outer surface. Side view.
  • Diagram showing the origins of the main branches of the carotid arteries.
  • Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
  • Bloodvessels of the eyelids, front view.
  • Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery
  • Facial artery.Deep dissection.Lateral view.

See also

References

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

  1. Robinson, June K; Anderson, E Ratcliffe (2005-01-01), Robinson, June K; Sengelmann, Roberta D; Hanke, C William; Siegel, Daniel Mark (eds.), "Chapter 1 - Skin Structure and Surgical Anatomy", Surgery of the Skin, Edinburgh: Mosby, pp. 3–23, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-02752-6.50006-7, ISBN 978-0-323-02752-6, retrieved 2020-11-14
  2. Sykes, Jonathan M.; Suárez, Gustavo A.; Trevidic, Patrick; Cotofana, Sebastian; Moon, Hyoung Jin (2018-01-01), Azizzadeh, Babak; Murphy, Mark R.; Johnson, Calvin M.; Massry, Guy G. (eds.), "Chapter 2 - Applied Facial Anatomy", Master Techniques in Facial Rejuvenation (Second Edition), Elsevier, pp. 6–14, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-35876-7.00002-9, ISBN 978-0-323-35876-7, retrieved 2020-11-14
  3. Markiewicz, Michael R.; Ord, Robert; Fernandes, Rui P. (2017-01-01), Brennan, Peter A.; Schliephake, Henning; Ghali, G. E.; Cascarini, Luke (eds.), "43 - Local and Regional Flap Reconstruction of Maxillofacial Defects", Maxillofacial Surgery (Third Edition), Churchill Livingstone, pp. 616–635, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-6056-4.00044-7, ISBN 978-0-7020-6056-4, retrieved 2020-11-14
  4. Barral, Jean-Pierre; Croibier, Alain (2011-01-01), Barral, Jean-Pierre; Croibier, Alain (eds.), "16 - The facial artery", Visceral Vascular Manipulations, Oxford: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 143–146, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-4351-2.00016-8, ISBN 978-0-7020-4351-2, retrieved 2020-11-14
  5. Gillespie, M. Boyd; Eisele, David W. (2009-01-01), Eisele, David W.; Smith, Richard V. (eds.), "CHAPTER 20 - Complications of Surgery of the Salivary Glands", Complications in Head and Neck Surgery (Second Edition), Philadelphia: Mosby, pp. 221–239, doi:10.1016/b978-141604220-4.50024-9, ISBN 978-1-4160-4220-4, retrieved 2020-11-14
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