ABSTRACT
Introduction: Face is mainly supplied by the Facial artery supplemented by transverse facial artery. Variations inthe course and branching pattern of facial artery are commonly seen. The understanding of these variations offacial artery plays a very important role in facio-maxillary surgeries. It is also of immense importance toradiologists in interpreting facial artery angiography.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Subbaiah Institute ofMedical Sciences on 50 formalin fixed adult hemi-faces irrespective of sex. The branching pattern, terminationsand variations of facial artery on the face were studied.The facial artery predominantly terminated as angular artery in 28 (56%) hemi-faces, as superior labial arteryin 15 (30%) hemi-faces and as lateral nasal artery in 6 (12%) hemi-faces.Results: An inconstant posterior (pre-masseteric) branch of facial artery was observed in 3 (6%) hemi-faces. Inone of the hemi-face we found a deviation in the usual course of facial artery, where the artery deviated towardsthe infra-orbital foramen then continued and terminated as the lateral nasal artery. An unusual termination offacial artery was observed in one of the hemi-faces where the artery terminated by giving 4 branches in the lowerbuccal region.Conclusion: Knowledge of these variations and anomalous branching pattern is of great academic and clinicalsignificance in general practice, Otorhinology, Traumatology, Plastic and Maxillofacial surgeries and Radiology