title: Communications Between the Facial Nerve and the Vestibulocochlear Nerve, the Glossopharyngeal Nerve, and the Cervical Plexus.
abstract: The aim of this review is to elucidate the communications between the facial nerves or facial nerve and neighboring nerves: the vestibulocochlear nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the cervical plexus.In a PubMed search, 832 articles were searched using the terms "facial nerve and communication." Sixty-two abstracts were read and 16 full-text articles were reviewed. Among them, 8 articles were analyzed.The frequency of communication between the facial nerve and the vestibulocochlear nerve was the highest (82.3%) and the frequency of communication between the facial nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve was the lowest (20%). The frequency of communication between the facial nerve and the cervical plexus was 65.2 ± 43.5%. The frequency of communication between the cervical branch and the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve was 24.7 ± 1.7%.Surgeons should be aware of the nerve communications, which are important during clinical examinations and surgical procedures of the facial nerves such as those communications involved in facial reconstructive surgery, neck dissection, and various nerve transfer procedures.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Plastic Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine †Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ju Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Su Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D002572:Cervical Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*