Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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1. Give the distinguishing features of the skin of the face
. (Snell 9 edition pg 579)
The skin
∙ Possess numerous sweat and sebaceous glands.
∙ It is connected to the underlying bones by loose connective tissue, in which
are embedded the muscles of facial expression.
∙ No deep fascia is present in the face.
∙ Wrinkle lines of the face result from the repeated folding of the skin
perpendicular to the long axis of the underlying contracting muscles, coupled
with loss of youthful skin elasticity.
∙ Surgical scars of the face are less conspicuous if they follow the wrinkle
lines.
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2. Illustrate the sensory nerve supply to the skin of the face.
(Snell 9 edition pg 579580)
The skin of the face is supplied by branches of the THREE divisions of the trigeminal nerve
except for the small area over the angle of the mandible and the parotid gland (supplied by
great auricular nerve).
I. Opthalmic Nerve
Supplies the skin of the forehead, the uppereyelid, the conjunctiva, and the side of the nose
down to and including the tip.
Five Branches of the nerve pass to the skin
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1. Lacrimal Nerve supplies the skin and conjunctiva of the lateral part of the upper eyelid.
2. Supraorbital nerve – winds around the upper margin of the orbit at the supraorbital notch. It
divides into branches that supply the skin and conjunctiva on the central part of the upper
eyelid; it also supplies the skin of the forehead.
3. Supratrochlear nerve – winds around the upper margin of the orbit medial part to the
supraorbital nerve. It divides intro branches that supply the skind and conjunctiva on the medial
part of the upper eyelid and the skin over the lower part of the forehead, close to the median
plane.
4. Infratrochlear nerve – leaves the orbit below the pulley of the superior oblique muscle. It
supplies the skin and conjunctiva on the medial part of the upper eyelid and the adjoining part of
the side of the nose
5. Extra nasal nerve leaves the nose by emerging between the nasal bone and the upper
nasal cartilage. It supplies the skin on the side of the nose down as far as the tip.
II. Maxillary Nerve
Supplies the skin on the posterior part of the side of the nose, the lower eyelid, the cheek,
the upper lip, and the lateral side of the orbital opening.
Three branches of the nerve pass to the skin.
1. Infraorbital nerve – is a direct continuation of the maxillary nerve. It enters the orbit and
appears on the face through the infraorbital foramen. It immediately divides into numerous small
branches, which radiate out from the foramen and supply the skin of the lower eyelid and cheek,
the side of the nose and the upper lip.
2. Zygomaticofacial nerve – passes onto the face through a small foramen on the lateral side
of the zygomatic bone. It supplies the skin over the prominence of the cheek.
3. Zygomaticotemporal nerve – emerges in the temporal fossa through a small foramen on the
posterior surface of the zygomatic bone. It supplies the skin over the temple.
III. Mandibular Nerve
Supplies the skin of the lower lip, the lower part of the face, the temporal region, and part of
the auricle. It then passes upward to the side of the scalp.
Three branches of the nerve pass to the skin.
1. Mental nerve – emerges from the mental foramen of the mandible and supplies the skin of
the lower lip and chin.
2. Buccal nerve – emerges from beneath the anterior border of the masseter muscle and
supplies the skin over a small area of the cheek.
3. Auricotemporal nerve – ascends from the upper border of the parotid gland between the
superficial temporal vessels and the auricle. It supplies the skin of the auricle, the external
auditory meatus, the outer surface if the tympanic membrane and the skin of the scalp above
the auricle.
3. Discuss the attachments. Neurovascular supply and actions (with demonstration) of
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the three groups of muscles of the facial expression. 1. (Snell 9
edition pg 574;589)
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Muscles of Facial Expression
Muscle Origin Insertion Nerve Action
Supply
Orbicularis Oculi
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Orbicularis Oris Maxilla, Encircle Facial Compre
mandibl s oral Nerve sses lips
e, and orifice together
skin
Dilator Muscles of Lips
Muscle Origin Insertion Nerve Supply Action
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Depressor Arise from bones Facial Nerve Separate
anguli oris and fascia around Lips
oral aperture and
insert unto
substance of lips
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Temporalis Floor of Coronoid Mandibular Anterior and
temporal fossa process of division of superior
mandible trigeminal fivers elevate
nerve mandible;
posterior
fibers retract
mandible
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leave the facial nerve in these communicating branches and pass to the central nervous system
via the trigeminal nerve.
Origin Commencement Termination Branches/
Tributaries
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Division: Facial nerve passes through, divides gland to superficial and deep lobes
Fascial covering: covered by the cervical fascia
Relations: facial nerve, retromandibular vein, external carotid artery, auriclotemporal nerve
Neurovascular supply: Parasympathetic secretomotor via glosspharyngeal nerve. Reach gland
via tympanic branch, lesser petrosal nerve, otic ganglion, auriculotemporal nerve
Venous drainage: drained by the retromandibular vein which runs traverses through the gland
8. Describe the course of the parotid duct
Parotid duct/ Stensen's duct
emerges from the anterior border of the parotid gland
courses transversely or obliquely downward across the lateral surface of the masseter to curve
inward around its anterior border, piercing the buccal fat and buccinator muscles which
perforates the buccal mucosa and terminates at the level of the second molar tooth
9. Discuss the 3 main neurovascular structures that traverse the substance of the parotid
gland: facial nerve, retromandibular vein and external carotid artery.
RETROMANDIBULAR VEIN
tributaries: maxillary veins and temporal vein
anterior division tributaries: facial vein and retromandibular vein
posterior division tributaries: posterior auricular vein and retromandibular vein
EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
most medial
commence at the upper border of the thyroid cartilage and enter the carotid triangle of the neck
and once it leaves the triangle, it wall pass deep to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle
and ascend to enter the parotid gland. At the level of the neck of the mandible, it will bifurcate
into the superficial temporal artery and maxillary artery
TRANSVERSE FACIAL ARTERY
branch of the superficial temporal artery
below the inferior border of the zygomatic arch; lies superior and parallel to the Stensen's duct
10. Describe the facial artery and facial vein
Facial Artery
Origin: external carotid artery
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Course: Ascends deep to submandibular gland; winds around inf. border of mandible and enters
face
covered by platysma & risorius muscles, ascends to zygomaticus muscles & levator labii
superioris muscle
Branches out *anastomoses with terminal branches of ophthalmic artery
Branches: submental artery, inferor labial artery, superior labial artery lateral nasal artery,
superficial tempporal artery, transverse facial artery, supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries
Area supplied: muscles of facial expression and face
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Facial Vein
Origin: continuation of angular vein past inferior margin of orbit
Course: descends along lat. border of nose, receive ex. nasal & inf. palpebral veins
passes oblique across face to (x) inferior border of mandible
receives comm from retromandibular vein (after, sometimes called common facial vein)
Termination: internal jugular vein opposite / inferior to level of hyoid bone
Area drain: anterior scalp and forehead; eyelids; external nose; nose; anterior cheek; lips; chin;
submandibular gland
11. Discuss the blood supply and venous drainage of the face.
Blood supply
Face receives blood supply from facial
and
temporal arteries (supplemented by small arteries)
The
facial artery
curves around the inferior margin of the body of the mandible at the anterior
border of the masseter muscle. ( Pulse can easily be felt here )
Branches:
1. Submental artery supplies the skin of the chin and lower lip
2. Lateral nasal artery supplies the skin on the side and dorsum of the nose.
3. Superficial temporal artery ascends in front of the auricle to supply the scalp
4. supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries supply the skin of the forehead
Venous drainage
Facial vein formed at the medial angle of the eye by the union of the supraorbital and
supratrochlear veins
Facial vein > supraorbital vein > superior ophthalmic vein > cavernous sinus* > internal jugular
vein (ends and is drained here)
* pathway for the spread of infection from the face to the cavernous sinus
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12. Discuss the clinical significance of the dangerous area of the face.
Potentially dangerous zone for infection: area of facial skin bounded by the nose, the eye,
and the upper lip
Why? Infection can spread through the inferior ophthalmic veins to the cavernous sinus (see
question 11)
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