Ok Fatma, Karip Burak, Korkmaz Fulya Temizsoy, Keleş Papatya, Can Tuba Selçuk, Yalçın Mazhar
Department of Anatomy, Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Selimiye, Tıbbiye Cd No: 38, 34668, Istanbul, Turkey.
Department of Radiology, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Anat Sci Int. 2025 Sep 5. doi: 10.1007/s12565-025-00898-3.
The transverse facial artery is a key vascular structure supplying the lateral face and is critically important in surgical procedures such as facelifts, facial trauma repair, and injectable treatments. However, detailed anatomical studies on the transverse facial artery remain scarce. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the anatomical variations, depth, branching patterns and clinical significance of the transverse facial artery (TFA) using both cadaveric dissection and computed tomography angiography (CTA). This study employed a dual-modality design, combining cadaveric dissection of 40 hemifaces and computed tomography angiography of 180 hemifaces. Parameters analyzed included the artery's origin, course, length, depth from the skin surface, and branching pattern. The transverse facial artery was classified according to its origin, branching, and topographic course. In cadaveric specimens, a single transverse facial artery was present in 87.5% of cases, most commonly originating from the superficial temporal artery (90%) and less frequently from the external carotid artery (5%). Imaging revealed a single artery in 91.1% of cases, with 83.3% originating from the superficial temporal artery, 3.9% directly from the external carotid artery, and 12.8% from its bifurcation. Six branching types and three course-based zones were defined, with the superior zone being the most frequent (65%). The artery was significantly deeper in the inferior zone (p < 0.05). In this study, we report for the first time the measurement of the depth of the TFA from the skin surface, with a mean value of 10.54 mm. This comprehensive anatomical and morphometric evaluation provides clinically relevant insights into transverse facial artery variability. The findings offer a refined classification and practical guidance to support safer surgical and aesthetic procedures.
面横动脉是供应面部外侧的关键血管结构，在诸如面部提升术、面部创伤修复和注射治疗等外科手术中至关重要。然而，关于面横动脉的详细解剖学研究仍然匮乏。本研究旨在通过尸体解剖和计算机断层血管造影（CTA）全面评估面横动脉（TFA）的解剖变异、深度、分支模式及临床意义。本研究采用双模态设计，结合40个半侧面部的尸体解剖和180个半侧面部的计算机断层血管造影。分析的参数包括动脉的起源、走行、长度、距皮肤表面的深度以及分支模式。面横动脉根据其起源、分支和地形走行进行分类。在尸体标本中，87.5%的病例存在单一的面横动脉，最常见的起源于颞浅动脉（90%），较少见的起源于颈外动脉（5%）。影像学显示91.1%的病例有单一动脉，其中83.3%起源于颞浅动脉，3.9%直接起源于颈外动脉，12.8%起源于其分叉处。定义了六种分支类型和三个基于走行的区域，其中上区最为常见（65%）。该动脉在下区明显更深（p < 0.05）。在本研究中，我们首次报告了面横动脉距皮肤表面深度的测量值，平均值为10.54毫米。这种全面的解剖学和形态学评估为面横动脉的变异提供了临床相关见解。这些发现提供了精细的分类和实用指导，以支持更安全的外科和美容手术。
