The Applied Anatomical Research About the Positional Relationship Between Temporal Branches, Zygomatic Branches of Facial Nerve and Zygomatic Arch

Objective: To provide anatomical foundation for the anesthesia of orbicular muscle of eye by locating the temporal branches and zygomatic branches of facial nerve.Methods: Bilaterally dissected 50 normal adult craniofacial specimen(total 100 sides) by operation under microscope, observe and measure the quantities of the temporal branches and zygomatic branches, and the relative position with the zygomatic arch.Results: ①192 temporal branches found in the 100 sides all crossed the zygomatic arch and on the superior border of the zygomatic arch, the distance was about 1.04±0.34 cm toward its posterior end. ②In the 286 zygomatic branches observed in the 100 sides, only 132(46.2%)branches crossed the zygomatic arch and on the superior border of the zygomatic arch about 2.23±0.28 cm toward its posterior end;23(8.0%)branches advanced on the superficial part of the zygomatic arch and on the inferior border of the arch there was a distance of 2.47±0.81 cm toward its posterior parts; the remained 131(45.8%) branches went ahead under the zygomatic arch and the vertical distance between the point where they pass through the parotid gland and the inferior border of the zygomatic arch was about 0.69±0.20 cm. Conclusion: During the optical block anesthesia, to reach better effects, we could puncture at the superior border of the zygomatic arch and about 1.00 cm toward its posterior end, then advance along its superficial part toward anterior inferior, and finally stop at the point which is about 0.69 cm to the inferior edge of the zygomatic arch.