title: Sihler staining study of anastomosis between the facial and trigeminal nerves in the ocular area and its clinical implications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The trigeminal nerve (CN V) supplies mostly sensory innervation to the face, and the facial nerve (CN VII) conveys primarily motor fibers. The aim of this study was to elucidate their distributions and anastomoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen specimens of hemisectioned faces were gathered from human cadavers and stained with Sihler staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The temporal (Tbr), zygomatic (Zbr), and buccal (Bbr) branches of CN VII formed trigeminofacial anastomoses in the ocular area. Communications were observed between the supraorbital nerve and the Tbr (85.7%), the infraorbital nerve and the Bbr (100%) and Zbr (28.6%), and the zygomaticofacial nerve and the Zbr (41.7%). Anastomoses were formed between the supratrochlear nerve and the Tbr (57.1%) and Bbr (50%), and the infratrochlear nerve and the Bbr (85.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motor and sensory axons to the face contribute to trigeminofacial anastomoses, which may play key roles in subtle movements of muscles of facial expression.
authors.affiliation: Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Room 601, 50 Yonseiro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hun-Mu
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sung-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Hee-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014321:Trochlear Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Sihler staining; facial expression muscle; facial nerve; nerve communication; trigeminal nerve