Microsurgical anatomy of the facial nerve

Microsurgical dissection of cadaver facial nerves revealed quantifiable complexities not presented in standard description. Total branches, intraparotid connections between divisions, and extraparotid connections between divisions are more common than generally noted, and 33% of the dissections demonstrated an extraplanar buccal branch originating within the parotid gland, and innervating the perioral muscles. These details of facial nerve anatomy suggest surgical procedures such as tumor resection, facial nerve reconstruction, facial reanimation, and facelifting.