Blood vessel supplying blood to the superficial face
The facial artery (external maxillary artery in older texts) is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.
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 swallowing; 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
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.
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 553 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
^ a bRobinson, 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
^ a b cSykes, 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
^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
^ a bBarral, 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
^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
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Facial artery.
"Facial artery". Medcyclopaedia. GE. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05.
Anatomy photo:23:09-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Facial Artery and Vein"
Anatomy figure: 25:04-04 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Branches of the external carotid artery."
Anatomy photo:31:09-0106 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Common Carotid Artery and Branches of the External Carotid Artery"