Facial Artery, Lateral View

Description

Running anterior to the masseter, the facial artery curves over the inferior border of the mandible just anterior to the angle, then ascends tortuously across the buccinator region toward the oral commissure and lateral nose in a lateral view of the male head and neck. Along its course, you would expect the submental branch near the mandibular margin, inferior and superior labial arteries at the lips, and the lateral nasal artery continuing toward the medial canthus as the angular artery. Superficial veins accompany the arterial tree, and branches of the facial nerve (temporal, zygomatic, buccal, marginal mandibular, cervical) traverse the cheek and mandibular margin in close proximity, with the parotid gland and its duct lying posterolateral to the masseter and turning medially to pierce the buccinator. Landmarks. Clear and surgical. This lateral perspective matters because the facial artery is palpated where it crosses the mandible and it becomes a real constraint in facial laceration repair, local flap design, and head and neck oncologic resection where margins run close to the mandibular border and oral commissure. In cosmetic and reconstructive practice, its variable but reliable tortuosity allows mobility during facial expression, but it also raises the risk of intravascular injection during filler placement along the nasolabial fold and lateral nasal sidewall, where retrograde embolization can threaten the ophthalmic circulation. Expect it to be encountered, and respected, during submandibular gland surgery where the artery grooves the gland and relates to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. Use this artwork for gross anatomy and head and neck courses, ENT and maxillofacial surgery teaching files, or publisher figures covering facial trauma, flap vascularity, and safe injection anatomy of the midface and perioral region. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.