Anatomical distances of the facial nerve branches associated with the temporomandibular joint in adult negroes and caucasians

RESUMO

In this study, we examined the relationship between the distances of the temporal and cervicofacial branches of the facial nerve to the temporomandibular joint in 92 facial halves from 56 adult cadavers (37 negroes, 19 caucasians; 48 M, 8F). Negro and Caucasian males frequently had a temporal branch more distant from the acustic meatus (1.59 cm) and the tragus (2.09 cm) when compared to the respective females (1.25 cm and 1.82 cm). In mesocephalic Negro and Caucasian males, the cervicofacial trunck frequently passed closer to the meatus (1.76 cm and 2.26 cm, respectively) than in brachycephalic Negro males (2.30 cm) and in dolicephalic Caucasian males (2.95 cm). Mesocephalic Caucasian males and brachycephalic Negro males distances for the cervicofacial branch (2.26 cm and 2.30 cm), respectively than the corresponding mesocephalic (1.4 cm) and brachycephalic (1.8 cm) females. The location of the temporal branches and cervicofacial trunch of the facial nerve increases the risk of lesions to these nerves during access to the temporomandibular joint. A knowledge of the measurements obtained here may help to decrease the number of such lesions.