Anatomic study of facial artery
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20210127-00047
- VernacularTitle:面动脉及其分支的解剖测量
- Author:
Ye ZHAO
1
;
Jingyu LI
;
Lei ZHANG
;
Fangyuan LAI
;
Qinhao GU
;
Sufan WU
Author Information
1. 浙江省人民医院 杭州医学院附属人民医院整形外科 310014
- Keywords:
Anatomy;
Arteries;
Face
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2021;37(4):352-358
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:Facial artery is the main blood supply source of facial soft tissue, which has an important influence on facial plastic surgery and injection procedures. There are many types of facial arteries. They have wide coverage, and travel several layers. In this study, the detailed characteristics of the facial arteries were revealed by cadaver dissection.Methods:In 19 donated fresh cranial (28 sides) specimens, the facial arteries were dissected. And then the type, layer, relationship with nasolabial groove, length, diameter, distance from the oral commissure, branches and submental artery were observed and measured.Results:Facial arteries were found in all cadavers, starting from the external carotid arteries, branching submental arteries below the mandibular margins, ascending to the anterior edge of the masseter muscles, crossing the mandibles and entering the faces. After entering into the faces, the facial arteries branched the submental arteries(100%, 28/28), lower labial arteries (100%, 28/28), upper labial arteries (100%, 28/28), lateral nasal arteries (92.9%, 26/28) and the angular arteries (57.2%, 16/28) throughout the courses. According to the vascular route, the facial artery was classified into four types. In TypesⅠ(8 sides), all branches were included and the angular arteries arose directly from the lower segment of the facial arteries (28.6%). In TypesⅡ(8 sides), all branches were included and the angular arteries were the terminal branches (28.6%). In TypesⅢ(10 sides), angular arteries were absent (35.7%). In Type Ⅳ (2 sides), angular arteries and lateral nasal arteries were absent (7.1%). The lower segment of facial artery coursed under the facial expression muscles, and continued to the middle segment at the point which was (26.0±5.0) mm away from the oral commissure on the lateral side. The layer that the facial artery coursed was varied. It passed through the superficial layer of the facial expression muscles. After passing the horizontal line parallel to the lower margin of nasal sill, the upper segment continued to on the superficial layer of the facial expression muscles. The facial arteries were mostly located medial to the nasolabial fold(24 sides, 85.7%) and occasionally across the nasolabial fold(4 sides, 14.3%). The lengths of the upper, middle and lower segments of facial artery were (26.4±10.9) mm, (29.7±8.4) mm, and(33.5±6.9) mm, respectively. The diameters in starting point of upper, middle and lower sections were(2.45±0.48) mm, (1.85±0.12) mm, and (1.09±0.21) mm, respectively. The facial artery passed lateral to the oral commissure and the distance from the intersection of the horizontal line to the oral commissure was (26.0±5.0) mm. The starting point of the superior labial artery locacted below the horizontal line was (8.0±1.4)mm away from the horizontal line of the oral commissure and(55.0±5.2) mm from the mandibular angle. The starting point of the inferior labial artery located below the horizontal line was (17.1±11.1) mm from the horizontal line of the oral commissure, and the distance from the mandibular angle was (44.2±5.2) mm. The diameter of the submental artery in its starting point was (1.4±0.1) mm. The distance from the starting point of the submental artery to the horizontal line of the oral commissure was (34.9±2.6) mm, and the distance from the mandibular angle was (29.4±5.8) mm. The starting point of the submental artery was (6.4±0.8) mm from the lower margin of the mandible. In the midline of the mandible, the distance between the submental artery and the lower margin of the mandible was (9.0±1.0) mm. In the midsagittal plane, the starting point of the submental artery was(8.4±1.0) mm from the lower margin of the mandible.Conclusions:There were several types of facial arteries and the courses were various, but the way they branched and the layers they coursed had certain rules. Understanding the anatomy of facial arteries is helpful to keep the treatment safe.
