Anatomical Location of the Transverse Facial Artery
The transverse facial artery runs below the zygomatic arch, originating at or below this bony landmark and coursing horizontally across the lateral face in the region between the zygomatic arch superiorly and the parotid duct inferiorly. 1, 2, 3
Precise Anatomical Course
The transverse facial artery consistently originates below the zygomatic arch in the vast majority of cases:
The artery originates from the superficial temporal artery (91.7% of cases) or external carotid artery (3.1% of cases) at a point located below the zygomatic arch 3
The vessel is found within an 8.8 mm wide zone beginning 17.0 mm below the lower border of the zygomatic arch 3
After originating below the arch, the artery courses horizontally across the lateral face, running between the zygomatic arch (above) and the parotid duct (below) 2, 4
Clinical Relevance for Surgical Planning
Understanding this relationship is critical for multiple procedures:
During middle fossa approaches requiring temporal craniotomy above the zygoma, the transverse facial artery remains inferior to the surgical field 5
The artery supplies the malar area, parotid gland and duct, facial nerve, facial muscles, and lateral facial skin through perforating branches 2, 6
Most perforators (77.9%) extend from superior emerging branches and penetrate below the parotid duct on the anterior third of the masseter muscle 2
The vessel's variable course and anastomotic patterns (including connections to the facial and angular arteries) create a risk zone from the tragus to the outer quarter of the upper lip for cosmetic injection procedures 4
Key Anatomical Pitfall
The transverse facial artery's position below the zygomatic arch means it is at risk during procedures involving the lateral face, masseter region, and parotid area, but remains protected during superior approaches above the zygoma 1, 6, 3.