AN ANATOMICOSURGICAL STUDY OF THE TEMPORAL BRANCH OF THE FACIAL-NERVE

THE SURGICAL ANATOMY of the temporal branch of the facial nerve was st udied bilaterally in 10 embalmed cadaveric heads. Particular attention was paid to the relationships between the temporal branch, the galeal -fascial layers, and the fat pads of the temporal-zygomatic region. Th e temporal branch of the facial nerve pierces the parotidomasseteric f ascia below the zygomatic arch. This branch travels first in the subcu taneous tissue and then, above the zygomatic arch, in the subgaleal sp ace. The temporal branch divides into an anterior, a middle (frontal), and a posterior ramus soon after it pierces the parotid fascia. The c ourse of the terminal twigs of the temporal branch of the facial nerve in the subgaleal space is extremely variable, with their location bei ng at times posterior to the anterior one-fourth of the temporalis mus cle. Occasionally, a twig for the frontalis muscle may run in between the two layers of the superficial temporal fascia. Because of these fi ndings (anteroposterior variability of temporal branch twigs and recur rent intrafascial twig), Yasargil's interfascial dissection may at tim es fail. A combined frontotemporal scalp/superficial temporal fascia d issection is anatomically suited to preserve the temporal branch of th e facial nerve.