Applied anatomy of the frontal branch of facial nerve: path across the zygomatic arch

Objective: To locate the path of the frontal branch of facial nerve(FB) crossing the zygomatic arch. Methods: Sixteen fixed adult heads specimens were dissected. The number of FB and the site of FB intersecting lower and upper border of the zygomatic arch were documented. Results: There were respectively 2.4 and 2.6 FB rami crossing the lower and upper border of zygoma, correspondingly the intersecting section were from 1.6 mm posterior to articular tubercle to 2.7 mm anterior to articular tubercle, and from 24.0 mm to 33.1 mm anterior to supra acoustic pore. Conclusion: The path of FB across the zygomatic arch could be named a 'risk zone' and a 'relative risk zone' according to surgical dissection.