THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE BUCCAL BRANCH OF THE FACIAL-NERVE TO THE PAROTID DUCT

Purpose: This cadaver dissection studied the relationship of the bucca l branch of the facial nerve to the parotid duct and its relevance to surgical procedures in this area. Materials and Methods: Ten cadaveric heads (twenty sides) were dissected, The superficial tissues were rem oved, and the buccal branch of the facial nerve and the parotid duct w ere identified, The vertical and horizontal relationships were recorde d and analyzed. Results: Eighty-five percent of the cadavers had a sin gle buccal branch of the facial nerve, whereas 15% had two branches, I n 75% of cases, the nerve was inferior to the duct as it emerged from the parotid gland, whereas in 25% of cases the nerve crossed the duct, usually from superior to inferior. Conclusion: The buccal branch of t he facial nerve has a close relationship with the parotid gland for ov er 2.5 cm after it emerges from the parotid gland; it normally lies in ferior to the duct. This relationship is of importance in performing p arotid gland surgery, parotid duct surgery, and some facial cosmetic s urgery.