Course and Distribution of Facial Nerve of the Korean Native Goat

한국재래산양 두부의 안면신경 분포에 관한 해부학적 연구

This study was carried out to investigate the branch and distribution of Nervus facialis of the Korean native goat. The observation was made by dissection of embalmed cadavers of ten Korean native goats. The results were as follows; 1. N. facialis arose from the ventrolateral surface of the medulla oblongata. 2. In the facial canal, N. facialis gave off N. petrosus major, N. stapedius and Chorda tympani. 1) N. petrosus major arose from Ganglion geniculi, passed through the pterygoid canal and terminated in Ganglion pterygopalatinum. 2) Chorda tympani joined N. lingualis at the lateral surface of the internal pterygoid muscle. 3. At the exit of the stylomastoid foramen, N. facialis gave off N. caudalis auricularis, Ramus auricularis internus, Ramus stylohyoideus and Ramus digastricus. 1) N. caudalis auricularis arose by two branches in 6 cases and by a single branch in 4 cases. N. caudalis auricularis gave off branches to the caudoauricuIar muscles and the internal surface of the conchal cavity. 2) Ramus auricularis internus arose by a single branch except in 2 cases in which it arose in common with N. caudalis auricularis. It penetrated the caudolateral surface of the tragus and distributed in the skin of the scapha. 3) Ramus stylohyoideus and Ramus digastricus arose separately from N. facialis. 4. In the deep surface of the parotid gland, N. facialis divided into N. auriculopalpebralis, Ramus buccalis dorsalis and Ramus buccalis ventralis. In 6 cases, N. facialis gave off Ramus buccalis ventralis and then divided into N. auriculopalpebralis and Ramus buccalis dorsalis. In 3 cases, N. facialis trifurcated into Ramus buccalis ventralis, Ramus buccalis dorsalis and N. auriculopalpebralis. In one case, N. facialis gave off N. auriculopalpebralis and then divided into Ramus buccalis dorsalis and Ramus buccalis ventralis. 1) Ramus buccalis ventralis ran along the ventral border of the masseter muscle and distributed to the buccinator and depressor labii inferioris muscles. Ramus buccalis ventralis communicated with a branch of Ramus buccalis dorsalis and N. buccalis. In 2 cases, it also communicated with N. mylohyoideus. 2) Ramus buccalis dorsalis communicated with Ramus transverses faciei, N. buccalis, N. infraorbitalis and a branch of Ramus buccalis ventralis. Ramus buccalis dorsalis distributed to the orbicularis oris, caninus, depressor labii inferioris, levator labii superioris, buccinator, malaris, nasolabialis and zygomaticus muscles. 3) N. auriculopalpebralis gave off Rami auriculares rostrales, which supplied the zygomaticoauricularis muscle, the frontoscutularis muscle and the skin of the base of the ear. N. auriculopalpebralis then continued as Ramus zygomaticus, which innervated the frontal muscle, the lateral surface of the base of the horn, the orbicularis oculi muscle and the adjacent skin of the orbit. N. auriculopalpebralis communicated with Nn. auriculares rostrales and Ramus zygomaticotemporalis. In 7 cases, it also communicated with N. infratrochlearis.