Transverse facial artery
Encyclopedia
The transverse facial artery is an artery that branches from the superficial temporal artery
and runs across the face.
before that vessel leaves the parotid gland
; running forward through the substance of the gland, it passes transversely across the side of the face, between the parotid duct
and the lower border of the zygomatic arch
, and divides into numerous branches, which supply the parotid gland
and parotid duct
, the masseter muscle
, and the integument, and anastomose with the facial artery
, the masseteric artery
, the buccinator artery
, and the infraorbital artery
.
This vessel rests on the masseter, and is accompanied by one or two branches of the facial nerve
.
Superficial temporal artery
In human anatomy, the superficial temporal artery is a major artery of the head. It arises from the external carotid artery when it bifurcates into the superficial temporal artery and maxillary artery....
and runs across the face.
Course
The transverse facial artery is given off from the superficial temporal arterySuperficial temporal artery
In human anatomy, the superficial temporal artery is a major artery of the head. It arises from the external carotid artery when it bifurcates into the superficial temporal artery and maxillary artery....
before that vessel leaves the parotid gland
Parotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...
; running forward through the substance of the gland, it passes transversely across the side of the face, between the parotid duct
Parotid duct
The parotid duct, also known as Stensen's duct, is the route that saliva takes from the parotid gland into the mouth.It passes through the buccal fat, buccopharyngeal fascia, and buccinator muscle then opens into the vestibule of the mouth next to the maxillary second molar tooth. The buccinator...
and the lower border of the zygomatic arch
Zygomatic arch
The zygomatic arch or cheek bone is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone , the two being united by an oblique suture; the tendon of the Temporalis passes medial to the arch to gain insertion into the coronoid process...
, and divides into numerous branches, which supply the parotid gland
Parotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...
and parotid duct
Parotid duct
The parotid duct, also known as Stensen's duct, is the route that saliva takes from the parotid gland into the mouth.It passes through the buccal fat, buccopharyngeal fascia, and buccinator muscle then opens into the vestibule of the mouth next to the maxillary second molar tooth. The buccinator...
, the masseter muscle
Masseter muscle
In human anatomy, the masseter is one of the muscles of mastication.In the animal kingdom, it is particularly powerful in herbivores to facilitate chewing of plant matter.-Origin and insertion of the two heads:...
, and the integument, and anastomose with the facial artery
Facial artery
The facial artery is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.-Structure:...
, the masseteric artery
Masseteric artery
The masseteric artery is small and passes laterally through the mandibular notch to the deep surface of the masseter muscle, which it supplies.It anastomoses with the masseteric branches of the external maxillary artery and with the transverse facial artery....
, the buccinator artery
Buccinator artery
The buccal artery is small and runs obliquely forward, between the Pterygoideus internus and the insertion of the Temporalis, to the outer surface of the Buccinator, to which it is distributed, anastomosing with branches of the facial artery and with the infraorbital....
, and the infraorbital artery
Infraorbital artery
The infraorbital artery is an artery in the head that runs in the maxilla, emerging through the infraorbital foramen, just under the orbit of the eye.-Course:...
.
This vessel rests on the masseter, and is accompanied by one or two branches of the facial nerve
Facial nerve
The facial nerve is the seventh of twelve paired cranial nerves. It emerges from the brainstem between the pons and the medulla, and controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and oral cavity...
.