A hitherto unreported disruption of cervical branches of facial artery

The facial artery (FA) normally arises from the external carotid artery (ECA), just above the lingual artery, at the level of greater horn of hyoid bone in the carotid triangle. It then passes obliquely upwards beneath the posterior belly of digastric and stylohyoid muscles sheltered by the ramus of the mandible lying medial to the bone. Here it passes deep to the superficial part of the submandibular salivary gland making a characteristic loop, winds around the base of the mandible to enter the face at antero-inferior angle of the masseter muscle. On the face, it runs upwards and forwards, lateral to the angle of the mouth and terminates as angular artery at medial canthus of eye [1]. The branches of FA can be divided into cervical and facial groups. Its cervical branches are ascending palatine, tonsillar, glandular branch(es) to the submandibular gland and submental artery, and its facial branches are inferior labial, superior labial and lateral nasal arteries [2]. The reported variations of the facial artery include; its intraparotid origin [3], arising as a common trunk with the lingual artery as linguo-facial trunk [2,4], its function being taken over by maxillary artery, transverse facial artery or the nasal branch of ophthalmic artery when absent, its termination as submental artery, labial artery or lateral nasal artery [5] and a case of duplex artery [6]. Rao et al. reported a high origin of facial artery and branching of glandular branch for submandibular gland from the external carotid artery [7]. It is important for oral and maxillofacial surgeons and radiologists to be aware of the normal anatomy of the facial artery and its branches. It is equally essential to be aware of anatomical vascular variations, to ensure these anomalies are not overlooked in the differential diagnosis.