Fenestration of the facial nerve by the stylomastoid artery.

Allen S ZhouElliana K DeVoreAmy F JulianoJonathon O Russell

Published in: Head & neck (2024)

In rare instances, the stylomastoid artery can penetrate through the common trunk of the facial nerve. This is an important anatomic variant for the parotid surgeon to be aware of, as it can increase the difficulty of facial nerve dissection.

Keyphrases

peripheral nerve
soft tissue
minimally invasive