Superficial Arteries of Face

Most superficial arteries of the face are branches or derivatives of branches of the external carotid artery. The facial artery provides the major arterial supply to the face. It arises from the external carotid artery and winds its way to the inferior border of the mandible, just anterior to the masseter. The artery lies superficially here, immediately deep to the platysma. The facial artery crosses the mandible, buccinator, and maxilla as it courses over the face to the medial angle (canthus) of the eye, where the superior and inferior eyelids meet. The facial artery lies deep to the zygomaticus major and levator labii superioris muscles. Near the termination of its sinuous course through the face, the facial artery passes approximately a finger's breadth lateral to the angle of the mouth. The facial artery sends branches to the upper and lower lips (superior and inferior labial arteries), ascends along the side of the nose, and anastomoses with the dorsal nasal branch of the ophthalmic artery. Distal to the lateral nasal artery at the side of the nose, the terminal part of the facial artery is called the angular artery.

The superficial temporal artery is the smaller terminal branch of the external carotid artery; the other branch is the maxillary artery. The superficial temporal artery emerges on the face between the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the auricle, enters the temporal fossa, and ends in the scalp by dividing into frontal and parietal branches. These arterial branches accompany or run in close proximity to the corresponding branches of the auriculotemporal nerve.

The transverse facial artery arises from the superficial temporal artery within the parotid gland and crosses the face superficial to the masseter, approximately a finger's breadth inferior to the zygomatic arch. It divides into numerous branches that supply the parotid gland and duct, the masseter, and the skin of the face. It anastomoses with branches of the facial artery.

In addition to the superficial temporal arteries, several other arteries accompany cutaneous nerves in the face. Supra-orbital and supratrochlear arteries, branches of the ophthalmic artery, accompany nerves of the same name across the eyebrows and forehead. The supra-orbital artery continues and supplies the anterior scalp to the vertex. The mental artery, the only superficial branch derived from the maxillary artery, accompanies the nerve of the same name in the chin.