Triple Premasseteric Branches of Facial Artery

Facial artery is known to show variations in its origin, course, termination, and branching pattern. One of its reported variant branch is called premasseteric branch. During our dissection classes, it was observed that an elderly male cadaver had 3 premasseteic branches arising from the facial artery. The first and second premasseteric branches passed deep to masseter under its anterior border, whereas the third premasseteric branch terminated by anastomosing with the infraorbital artery. This case could be of importance to maxillofacial surgeons, craniofacial surgeons, and plastic surgeons. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Satheesha B. Nayak, MSc, PhD, Professor of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104; India E-mail: sathish.nayak@gmail.com Received 17 August, 2018 Accepted 8 September, 2018 The authors report no conflicts of interest. © 2019 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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