Summary
Injury to the mandibular marginal ramus of the facial n. constitutes a risk in cervicofacial surgery. The aims of this study were to define the origin of this nerve branch and its course and relations, especially with the lower border of the mandible and the facial vessels. Our observations revealed differences from the classical description of a single nerve branch traveling on the outer aspect of the body of the mandible above its lower border. We found several marginal branches, which become closely related to the facial pedicle, particularly the intermediate ramus, which can form a neural plexus around the facial a. They may follow a submandibular course, before but also after crossing the facial vessels. They are difficult to classify because of their great variability.
Résumé
Une lésion du rameau marginal de la mandibule (Ramus marginalis nervus facialis) représente un risque de la chirurgie cervico-faciale. Les buts de cette étude étaient de préciser l'origine du rameau marginal de la mandibule, son trajet et ses rapports plus particulièrement avec le bord inférieur de la mandibule et les vaisseaux faciaux. Nos observations présentent des divergences avec la description classique d'un rameau nerveux unique cheminant à la face latérale du corps de la mandibule au dessus de son bord inférieur. Nous avons toujours retrouvé plusieurs rameaux marginaux. Ces rameaux entrent en rapport étroit avec le pédicule facial. En particulier le rameau intermédiaire peut réaliser un plexus nerveux autour de l'a. faciale. Ils peuvent adopter un trajet submandibulaire, avant mais aussi après le croisement des vaisseaux faciaux. Leur systématisation est délicate du fait de leur extrême variabilité.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banzet P, Servant JM (1994) Chirurgie plastique reconstructive et esthétique. Flammarion, Paris, pp 397–426, 685–699
Dingman RO, Grabb WC (1962) Surgical anatomy of the mandibular ramus of the facial nerve based on the dissection of 100 facial halves. Plast Reconstr Surg 29: 266–272
Ellenbogen R (1979) Pseudo-paralysis of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve after platysmal face-lift operation. Plast Reconstr Surg 63: 364–368
Kopuz C, Ilgi S, Yavuz S, Önderoglu S (1995) Morphology of the retromandibular vein in relation of the facial nerve in the parotid gland. Acta Anat 152: 66–68
Lagrot F (1924) Recherches sur la topographie de la branche cervico-faciale. Bull Soc Anat Paris 21: 159–168
Laing MR, MacKerrow WS (1988) Intraparotid anatomy of the facial nerve and retromandibular vein. Br J Surg 75: 310–312
Le-Quang C (1976) Le plexus genien du nerf facial — anatomie et conséquences cliniques. Ann Chir Plast 21: 5–15
Liebman EP, Webster RC, Gaul JR, Griffin T (1988) The marginal mandibular nerve in rhytidectomy and liposuction surgery. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 114: 179–181
Moffat DA, Ramsden RT (1977) The deformity produced by a palsy of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. J Laryngol Otol 91: 401–406
Nelson DW, Gingrass RP (1979) Anatomy of the mandibular branches of the facial nerve. Plast Reconstr Surg 64: 479–482
Wang TM, Lin CL, Kuo KJ, Shih C (1991) Surgical anatomy of the mandibular ramus of the facial nerve in Chinese adults. Acta Anat 142: 126–131
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Savary, V., Robert, R., Rogez, J.M. et al. The mandibular marginal ramus of the facial nerve: an anatomic and clinical study. Surg Radiol Anat 19, 69–72 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628127
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628127