THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FACIAL NERVE IN THE PAROTID GLAND

Examinations of the distribution of the facial nerve, as well as of anastomosis between its branches, using total and subtotal parotidectomy specimens., remoned in our department from 4952 to June. 1957 have revealed the felleing results: 1. The cases which showed agastosis between the ascending and descending branches and those without anostomosis were equal in number. In the majority of the former, the anasto-mosis was seen on the lateral surface of the masseter muscle and the inner surface of the shallow lobe. 2. In 27% of the cases examined, no communication was observed between the branches of the facial nerve. 3. The cases examined might be classified into 8 types in accordance with the differences in ramification and anastomosis of th facial nerve. However, no definite corelation, was found between the types based on this classification and the types classified on the basis of the basis of the differences on alograms. 4. Although the branch of the facial nerve in the parotid gland measured over 1 mm in diameter in the majority of the cases, it measured less than 1 mm in some cases. 5. The best way to identify the facial nerve during the surgery of the parotid gland is to end it where its main trunk comes out from the stylomastoid foramen and enters into the pa-rotid gland.