Connections of the motor branches of the facial nerve

Abstract

Introduction. Considering superficial location of the extracranial branches of the facial nerve, and susceptibility of those branches to both injures in facial surgery and facial traumas, knowledge about connections of the motor branches of the facial nerve doubtless are of clinical significance. Aim of the study. To establish types of connections between the motor branches of the facial nerve. Materials and methods. Thirty one adult cadaveric semiheads fixed in formaldehyde solution were dissected using Vorobiov's method of anatomical dissection and types of connections between the motor branches of the facial nerve were marked out. The specimens were dissected at the Chair of Human anatomy of Nicolae Testemitanu SUMPh and the research project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the same University. Results. Different types of connections between the motor branches of the facial nerve have been highlighted by dissection of its extracranial branches. It should be mentioned that in all our cases were revealed connections between the motor branches of the facial nerve. In about 92% of cases small loop-shape connections of the ending branches were marked out. Another feature that worth to be mentioned was variable shapes of connections in the same individuals that should be kept in mind in surgery of the OMF region. Between the temporal, zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve were distinguished wide-loop connections of various shapes: triangular, round, oval, linear and quadrangular. In 3 cases there were double connections between the cervical branch of the facial nerve and transverse cervical nerve, but in one case there were multiple connections between those branches revealed on both semiheads of the same cadaver. In about 89% of cases the loops were very small and distally located, close to the innervated muscles. Large oval-shape loops were marked out in 12 cases, formed immediately after division of the facial nerve trunk into its temporofacial and cervicofacial branches. Conclusions. Connections between the motor branches of the facial nerve were of wide range of variability. It should be pointed out that even on the both semiheads of the same individual connections varied in shape being triangular, round, oval and quadrangular. In the proximity of the facial nerve trunk the loops were large and less in number, but smaller, more in number and of greater variability close to the innervated muscle. We believe that along with other factors that influence patients’ recovery after surgery of the OMF region, connections of the motor branches of the facial nerve are of great clinical significance.