Dissection 6 - The Face

Angular a.

Facial a. once it reaches the side of the nose

Anterior nasal spine

Pointed, midline bony projection located at the lower margin of the anterior choanae - formed by the fusion of the R and L maxilla at the superior end of the intermaxillary suture

Buccal branch of CN VII

Branch of facial n. that runs parallel to the parotid duct

Buccal fat pad

Adipose tissue located deep within the cheek; Between the buccinator m. and more superficial facial muscles such as masseter and zygomaticus

Buccinator

F: Movement of cheeks; I: Buccal branch of CN VII

Cervical branch of CN VII

Most inferior branch of CN VII found crossing mandible to reach the platysma

Depressor anguli oris

F: Depresses angle of the lips; I: Marginal mandibular branch of CN VII

Depressor labii inferioris

F: Depress lower lip; I: Marginal mandibular branch of CN VII

Facial a.

Branch of ECA that passes over the corpus of the mandible, anterior to the masseter (tortuous)

Facial n. (CN VII)

Common n. exits through stylomastoid foramen and branches within the parotid gland

Facial v.

Less tortuous than facial a. and runs parallel

Frontalis

F: Raises eyebrows; I: Temporal and zygomatic branch of CN VII

Inferior labial a.

Branch of facial a. that runs inferior to lip

Infraorbital foramen

Infraorbital VAN exits (CN V2); Inferior to orbit

Levator anguli oris

F: Elevate angle of the mouth; I: Buccal branch of CN VII

Levator labii superioris

F: Elevate upper lip; I: Buccal branch of CN VII

Marginal mandibular branch of CN VII

Branch of CN VII that runs along the mandible

Masseter m.

Runs from the mastoid process to the angle of the mandible; innervated by CN V3

Mental foramen

Where mental VAN exits (CN V3)

Mentalis

F: Raise lower lip; I: Marginal mandibular branch of CN VII

Nasalis

F: Flare nostrils; I; Buccal branch of CN VII

Orbicularis oculi

F: Closes eyes; I: Zygomatic branch of CN VII

Orbicularis oris

F: Pucker the lips; I: Lower buccal and marginal mandibular branches of CN VII

Parotid duct

Courses from anterior border of parotid gland to behind the maxillary second molar; Deep anterior to masseter, through buccal fat pad, and pierces the buccinator

Parotid gland

Major salivary gland located anterior to ear; CN VII runs inside the gland and parasympathetics from CN IX run to the gland

Platysma

F: Tightens skin of the neck and depresses angle of the mouth; I: Cervical branch of CN VII (in superficial fascia of neck)

Posterior auricular branch of CN VII

Runs posteriorly behind ear to provide SM to occipitalis and auricle

Retromandibular v.

Joins with facial v. to form common facial vein and drain into IJV; Posterior division drains into EJV

Risorius

F: Lateral stretch of lips; I: Buccal branch of CN VII (the muscle is very small)

Superior labial a.

Branch of facial a. runs superior to lips

Supraorbital foramen

Where supraorbital VAN exits (CN V1) - lateral to supratrochelar foramen

Temporal branch of CN VII

Branch of facial running into temporal region

Tragus

Small cartilaginous projection located on external ear

Zygomatic branch of CN VII

Branch of CN VII found in zygomatic arch region

Zygomaticus major

F: Smiling; I: Upper buccal branches of CN VII