title: Surgical anatomy of the extraparotid distribution of the facial nerve.
abstract: The peripheral, extraparotid distribution of the clinically important branches of the facial nerve is described, with common variations, based on the anatomical dissection of 35 cadaver half heads. Methods are suggested for avoiding, isolating, and protecting the facial nerve branches during surgical procedures.
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation; D015050:Zygoma / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation