What is the gross morphology of the facial artery?

From the Research

The facial artery has a characteristic tortuous course through the face, originating from the external carotid artery in the neck and giving off several important branches, including the submental artery, inferior and superior labial arteries, and lateral nasal artery, as described in the most recent and highest quality study 1. The facial artery is a major vessel supplying blood to the face, and its location and course are crucial for safe manipulation of both surgical and non-surgical interventions.

• The artery courses upward and forward, passing deep to the posterior belly of the digastric and stylohyoid muscles before entering the submandibular gland.
• Within the gland, it makes a characteristic loop around the inferior border of the mandible at the anterior edge of the masseter muscle, where it can be palpated.
• After entering the face, the facial artery follows a winding path upward, passing near the corners of the mouth and alongside the nose toward the medial canthus of the eye.
• The facial artery's superficial location in parts of its course makes it vulnerable to injury but also accessible for pulse palpation at the mandibular margin. The facial artery and its tributaries have close topographical connections to the facial expression muscles, nasolabial groove, and vermilion border, and these also distinguish facial landmarks comprising the cheilion, stomion, and gonion, as noted in the study 1.
• The angular artery was connected to the ophthalmic artery branches and in some cases did not originate from the facial artery.
• Vascular complications of the facial artery tributaries are frequently seen in the angular, dorsum of the nose, tip of the nose, and glabellar region. Another study 2 described the arterial territories of the skin of the face depending on the external carotid artery branches, including the facial artery, superficial temporal artery, and transverse facial artery.
• The lips and the tip of the nose were vascularized in most cases by the facial artery.
• The superficial temporal artery vascularizes the temporal and frontal areas and a part of the auricle. However, the most recent and highest quality study 1 provides the most detailed and accurate description of the facial artery's gross morphology.