Unusual branching pattern and termination of facial artery and its clinical implications for facial operations / Padrão anômalo de ramificação e terminação da artéria facial e implicações clínicas para cirurgias da face

The facial artery is the main artery of the face and variations in its origin and its branching pattern have been documented. We report herein multiple facial artery branch variations in the face. A large posterior (premasseteric) branch originated from the left facial artery and coursed upwards behind the main trunk of the facial artery. This artery presented with a straight course and was closely related to the anterior border of the masseter. The branch then terminated by supplying the adjacent connective tissue below the parotid duct. It was also observed that the facial artery was very thick and tortuous and terminated as the superior labial artery. Knowledge of this variation is of great clinical significance in facial operations, especially for maxillofacial surgeons and plastic surgeons, because it forms the anatomical basis for the facial artery musculo-mucosal flap

A artéria facial é a principal artéria da face, e variações da sua origem e padrão de ramificação têm sido documentadas. Este artigo descreve múltiplas variações de ramificações da artéria facial. Um ramo posterior grande (pré-massetérico) teve origem na artéria facial esquerda e cursou para cima por trás do tronco principal da artéria facial. Essa artéria apresentou um curso reto e intimamente relacionado com a borda anterior do masseter. O ramo terminou suprindo o tecido conjuntivo adjacente abaixo do ducto parotídeo. Também se observou que a artéria facial tinha grande calibre, era tortuosa e terminava na artéria labial superior. Conhecer essa variação é de grande significância clínica em cirurgias da face, principalmente para cirurgiões maxilofaciais e plásticos, tendo em vista que ela forma a base anatômica para o retalho músculo-mucoso da artéria facial

Bilateral Anatomical Variation in the Arterial Supply of Face Involving the Facial and Transverse Facial Artery.

We present a case-report whereby a bilateral variation in the arterial supply of face was seen. The facial artery which is the main artery of face was seen terminating in the lower part of the face, as the inferior labial artery and few other branches; the transverse facial artery, which supplements the facial artery normally, was seen to enlarge and take over the course of facial artery, giving the superior labial and lateral nasal branches. The small pre-masseteric branch arising from facial artery was seen only on right side of face. It was absent on left side. Accurate knowledge of the normal and variant arterial anatomy of the facial artery is important for vascular radiology and will provide an anatomical basis to assist surgeons in performing maxillo-facial surgeries successfully. The details of this variation and its clinical significance are discussed herein.