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Case report of unique anastomosis between facial and inferior alveolar arteries

  • Anatomic Variations
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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Understanding anatomical variations of the facial artery and its branches is important for dental and medical practitioners.

Methods

Routine cadaveric dissection of the head and neck was performed to demonstrate the origin and branches of the facial artery.

Results

Facial artery emerged from a common linguofacial trunk off the external carotid artery. On the face, the facial artery first gave off a pre-masseteric branch. Immediately after, an aberrant artery emerged from the facial artery that coursed along the ramus of the mandible, which upon further dissection and examination was found to anastomose with inferior alveolar artery within the ramus of the mandible.

Conclusions

We report a unique anastomosis between facial and inferior alveolar arteries, vessels that have not been previously shown to communicate. This case report may provide useful information for oral and maxillofacial surgeons as well as dentists performing inferior alveolar nerve blocks.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. Omid Rahimi, Associate Professor, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, and Director, Human Anatomy Program, UT Health San Antonio for providing his support for the study.

Funding

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Applied Science Education, University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, 7615 Kennedy Hill Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78235, USA

    Arunabh Bhattacharya

  2. Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Arunabh Bhattacharya, Ramaswamy Sharma & Laura Solis

  3. School of Dentistry, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Caitlin Armstrong

Authors
  1. Arunabh Bhattacharya
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  2. Ramaswamy Sharma
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  3. Caitlin Armstrong
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  4. Laura Solis
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Contributions

AB was involved in dissection, writing and editing the manuscript, and preparing the specimen for photo documentation. RS was involved in writing/editing the manuscript and processing the photographs for publication. CA was involved in dissection. LS contributed to photo documentation and recording of the diameter of the aberrant artery.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arunabh Bhattacharya.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Bhattacharya, A., Sharma, R., Armstrong, C. et al. Case report of unique anastomosis between facial and inferior alveolar arteries. Surg Radiol Anat 42, 603–606 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02375-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-019-02375-9

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