Fig. 4

Photographs of anatomical dissections of the right side of the head and neck showing a triangular space (blue triangle in b) formed by the two main branches of division of the facial nerve. In the bottom of this triangular area, it is possible to observe the anterior flank of the terminal portion the external carotid artery. a The skin, the subcutaneous tissue, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, and the superficial lobe of the parotid gland have been removed to expose the facial nerve and its branches. b In addition to the structures removed in (a), most of the deep lobe of the parotid gland has been removed to expose the external carotid artery. SCM Sternocleidomastoid muscle, P Parotid gland, DM Digastric muscle, SHM Sternohyoid muscle, MM Masseter muscle. 1 Facial nerve trunk, 2 Temporal division of the facial nerve (temporofacial trunk), 3 Cervical division of the facial nerve (cervicofacial trunk), 4 Frontal branch of the facial nerve, 5 Zygomatic branches of the facial nerve, 6 Superior buccal branches of the facial nerve, 7 Inferior buccal branches of the facial nerve, 8 Marginal branch of the facial nerve, 9 Cervical branch of the facial nerve, 10 External carotid artery, 11 Posterior auricular artery, 12 Superficial temporal artery, 13 Internal carotid artery, 14 Common carotid artery, 15 Superior thyroid artery, 16 Lingual artery, 17 Hypoglossal nerve