Applied anatomy of the temporal branch of the facial nerve

Objective To determine the number of the temporal branches of the facial nerve and its distributions;to provide anatomical basis for cosmetic surgery in the area of facial nerve and temporal region.Methods The number of the temporal branches of the facial nerve and its distribution were observed on 33(66 sides) adult cadavers;The distances between the branches of the temporal branches across the lower part of the zygomatic arch to the lateral angle of eye were measetred.Results The temporal branches of the facial nerve has four branches named temporal branches Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ Ⅳ.Ⅳcomes out superficially from the front order of the parotid gland and the rest from the upper border.Affer that,they reach the shallow layer of the zygomatic arch,I distributeal to the deep layer of the occipitofrontalis frontal belly;Ⅱ to the junction of the deep layer between the occipitofrontalis frontal belly and the orbicularis oculi and Ⅲ Ⅳ to the deep layer of orbicularis oculi.The distances between the temporal branches of the face nerve across the lower part of the zygomatic arch to the lateral angle of eye are 3.8 cm,3.3 cm,3.7 cm 2.8 cm in male,and 3.6 cm,3.3 cm,2.7 cm, 2.6 cm for female.The distances between the starting points of temporal branches to the lower part of the zygomatic arch are 3.0 cm,3.8 cm,4.0 cm 4.2 cm in male and 2.7 cm,3.3 cm,3.3 cm 3.7 cm for female.Conclusion The knowledge that temporal branch of the facial nerve has different trip and distributions according to the sex can provide anatomical basis for the cosmetic surgery.