Functions
The facial artery plays a very significant role in providing blood to muscles, tissues, and glands in the face and mouth. Broadly speaking, the functions of this artery can be organized based on the part of its course that branches emerge from. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Cervical Course:
The branches from this part of the facial artery indeed supply structures in the throat and mouth, including:
- Auditory tube
- Palatine tonsil
- Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
- Soft palate
- Submental region (muscles, skin, and lymph nodes)
- Submandibular salivary gland
Facial Course:
The orbicularis oris surrounds the lips. The facial course of the artery supplies:
- Upper and lower lips
- Labial glands
- Nasal septum and ala
- Lacrimal sac
- Orbicularis oculi muscle (around the eyes)
- Cheek and nose regions
Clinical Significance
Branches of the external carotid artery, like the facial artery, are well collateralized and tolerate reduced blood flow in the larger vessels that supply the facial artery. This means that if blood flow is reduced in the main supplying vessels, other arteries can often compensate, resulting in few or no symptoms.
Symptoms of facial arterial damage can develop if the artery is damaged due to trauma. This can include bleeding, which can lead to swelling and compression of nearby structures. Damage can indeed lead to bleeding, swelling, and compression of nearby structures.
Additional points of clinical significance:
Surgical Considerations:
Knowledge of facial artery anatomy is crucial for various surgical procedures, including facial reconstructions and aesthetic surgeries.
Embolization Procedures:
The facial artery can be a route for therapeutic embolization in cases of severe nosebleeds or certain types of tumors.
Pulse Point:
The facial artery can be palpated where it crosses the mandible, serving as a pulse point.
Filler Injections:
Understanding the course of the facial artery is important for safe cosmetic filler injections to avoid intravascular injection.
Flap Surgeries:
The facial artery is often used as the vascular pedicle for various facial flaps in reconstructive surgery.
Citations:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536932/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30725617/
[3] https://teachmeanatomy.info/encyclopaedia/f/facial-artery/
[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/facial-artery
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_artery
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493209/
[7] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24988-facial-artery
[8] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21672-facial-muscles