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Morphology and variability of the facial nerve trunk depending on the branching pattern, gender, anthropometric type and side of the head in Moldovan population
, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3
Affiliations- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
- Department of Paediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Paedodontics “Ion Lupan”, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Implantology “Arsenie Gutan”, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
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Abstract
Background: Knowledge concerning variability of the facial nerve trunk (FNT)
direction after its exit through the stylomastoid foramen is of a great clinical
significance for maxillofacial surgeons, otorhinolaryngologists, oncologists, specialists
in plastic and aesthetic surgery. The aim of our study was to establish the
variation of the FNT direction and its peculiarities depending on the branching
pattern, gender, anthropometric type and side of the head.
Materials and methods: The direction of the FNT and its branching pattern
were studied on 75 dissected hemifaces of adult formalised cadavers (59 male/
/16 female), and the morphometry of the FNT length, width and bifurcation angle
was carried out.
Results: Seven branching patterns of the facial nerve were established: type I
— 18.7%, type II — 14.7%, type III — 20%, type IV — 14.6%, type V — 5.3%,
type VI — 18.7%, and type NI — 8% (bizarre types). The FNT had a descending
direction in 73.3% of cases; ascending FNT — 9.3% (including 5.3% of very short
diffuse branching trunks and 1.3% of arch-shaped FNT); horizontal FNT — 10.7%;
number variants — 6.7%. The male/female ratio of the descending FNT was
69.5%/87.4%; ascending — 10.2%/6.3%; horizontal — 11.9%/6.3%; number
variants — 8.4% (only in male). The right/left ratio of the descending FNT was
62.9%/82.5%; ascending — 11.4%/7.5%; horizontal — 11.4%/10%; number
variants — 14.3% (only on the right side). The ratio of the descending FNT in
mesocephalic type (MCT)/brachycephalic type (BCT)/dolichocephalic type (DCT)
was respectively 70.6%/100%/66.7%; ascending — 12.1%/0%/0%; horizontal
— 12.1/0%/11.1%. Numerical variants in MCT — 5.2%, in DCT — 22.2%. The
mean number of FNT in MCT/BCT/DCT was respectively 1.07/1.0/1.22.
Conclusions: Three main directions are characteristic of the FNT: the descending,
ascending and horizontal ones, which vary depending on the branching pattern,
gender, shape and side of the head.
Abstract
Background: Knowledge concerning variability of the facial nerve trunk (FNT)
direction after its exit through the stylomastoid foramen is of a great clinical
significance for maxillofacial surgeons, otorhinolaryngologists, oncologists, specialists
in plastic and aesthetic surgery. The aim of our study was to establish the
variation of the FNT direction and its peculiarities depending on the branching
pattern, gender, anthropometric type and side of the head.
Materials and methods: The direction of the FNT and its branching pattern
were studied on 75 dissected hemifaces of adult formalised cadavers (59 male/
/16 female), and the morphometry of the FNT length, width and bifurcation angle
was carried out.
Results: Seven branching patterns of the facial nerve were established: type I
— 18.7%, type II — 14.7%, type III — 20%, type IV — 14.6%, type V — 5.3%,
type VI — 18.7%, and type NI — 8% (bizarre types). The FNT had a descending
direction in 73.3% of cases; ascending FNT — 9.3% (including 5.3% of very short
diffuse branching trunks and 1.3% of arch-shaped FNT); horizontal FNT — 10.7%;
number variants — 6.7%. The male/female ratio of the descending FNT was
69.5%/87.4%; ascending — 10.2%/6.3%; horizontal — 11.9%/6.3%; number
variants — 8.4% (only in male). The right/left ratio of the descending FNT was
62.9%/82.5%; ascending — 11.4%/7.5%; horizontal — 11.4%/10%; number
variants — 14.3% (only on the right side). The ratio of the descending FNT in
mesocephalic type (MCT)/brachycephalic type (BCT)/dolichocephalic type (DCT)
was respectively 70.6%/100%/66.7%; ascending — 12.1%/0%/0%; horizontal
— 12.1/0%/11.1%. Numerical variants in MCT — 5.2%, in DCT — 22.2%. The
mean number of FNT in MCT/BCT/DCT was respectively 1.07/1.0/1.22.
Conclusions: Three main directions are characteristic of the FNT: the descending,
ascending and horizontal ones, which vary depending on the branching pattern,
gender, shape and side of the head.
Keywords
facial nerve, branching types, variation, peculiarities, morphometry
About this articleTitle
Morphology and variability of the facial nerve trunk depending on the branching pattern, gender, anthropometric type and side of the head in Moldovan population
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
791-797
Published online
2022-10-14
Page views
936
Article views/downloads
520
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2023;82(4):791-797.
Keywords
facial nerve
branching types
variation
peculiarities
morphometry
Authors
A. Babuci
I. Catereniuc
Z. Zorina
A. Bendelic
T. Botnari
E. Stepco
S. Lehtman
S. Strisca
L. Nastas
G. Motelica
O. Procopenco
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