Facial anatomy

Question 1

Name the branches of the facial artery in the neck

Answer 1

Ascending palatine – supplies the soft palate and palatine tonsils.
Tonsillar – supplies the palatine tonsils.
Submental – supplies the floor of the mouth and sublingual gland.
Glandular – supplies the submandibular gland.

Question 2

Name the branches of the facial artery in the face

Answer 2

Superior and inferior labial artery – supply the upper and lower lips.
Lateral nasal artery – supplies the external nose.
Angular artery – supplies the external nose, lower eyelid, orbicularis oculi and lacrimal sac.

Question 3

Describe the course of the facial artery

Answer 3

The facial artery arises from the external carotid artery within the carotid triangle of the neck.

It travels superiorly and obliquely, underneath the digastric and stylohyoid muscles, and closely associated with the posterior surface of the submandibular gland (it can pass through the gland itself in some individuals).

It gives rise to several branches in the neck – ascending palatine, tonsillar, submental, and glandular.

The facial artery then curves upwards, passing over the body of the mandible and along the inferior border of the masseter, deep to the platysma muscle.

It then takes a tortuous course towards the angle of the mouth, supplying superior and inferior labial branches to the lips. It terminates by ascending along the side of the nose in the nasolabial fold, as the angular artery.