Abstract

This study examined the anatomical relationships along with the variability of the facial nerve trunk and its branches with an emphasis on the intraparotid connections between the divisions. And histomorphometric observations of the facial nerve branches and fascicles were performed on 40 Korean half-heads. The facial nerve trunk was bifurcated into two main divisions(35/40, 87.5%) and the other five cases were divided into a trifurcation pattern. According to the origin of the buccal branch, the branching patterns of the facial nerve were classified into four categories. Communications between the facial and auriculotemporal nerve branches were observed in 37 out of 40 cases(92.5%). In the histological observation, the buccal branch had the greatest number of branches(3.47), however the zygomatic branch had the largest diameters(0.93mm). This detailed description of the facial nerve anatomy will provide useful information for surgical procedures such as a tumor resection, a facial nerve reconstruction, autonerve graft, and facelift.