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Published on: October 13, 2023
Variant facial artery in the submandibular region
Rajanigandha Vadgaonkar1, Rajalakshmi Rai, Latha V Prabhu
1Department of Anatomy, Centre for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
Abstract:
Facial artery has been considered to be the most important vascular pedicle in facial rejuvenation procedures and submandibular gland (SMG) resection. It usually arises from the external carotid artery and passes from the carotid to digastric triangle, deep to the posterior belly of digastric muscle, and lodges in a groove at the posterior end of the SMG. It then passes between SMG and the mandible to reach the face after winding around the base of the mandible. During a routine dissection, in a 62-year-old female cadaver, in Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, an unusual pattern in the cervical course of facial artery was revealed. The right facial artery was found to pierce the whole substance of the SMG before winding around the lower border of the mandible to enter the facial region. Awareness of existence of such a variant and its comparison to the normal anatomy will be useful to oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
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