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. 2017 Sep 29;9(9):e1727.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.1727.

Anatomical Study of the Zygomaticotemporal Branch Inside the Orbit

Joe Iwanaga  1 , Charlotte Wilson  1 , Koichi Watanabe  2 , Rod J Oskouian  3 , R Shane Tubbs  4
Affiliations

Anatomical Study of the Zygomaticotemporal Branch Inside the Orbit

Joe Iwanaga et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

The location of the opening of the zygomaticotemporal branch (ZTb) of the zygomatic nerve inside the orbit (ZTFIN) has significant surgical implications. This study was conducted to locate the ZTFIN and investigate the variations of the ZTb inside the orbit. A total of 20 sides from 10 fresh frozen cadaveric Caucasian heads were used in this study. The vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN (V-ZTFIN), the horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN (H-ZTFIN), and the diameter of the ZTFIN (D-ZTFIN) were measured. The patterns of the ZTb inside the orbit were classified into five different groups: both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland independently (Group A), both ZTb and LN innervating the lacrimal gland with a communicating branch (Group B), ZTb joining the LN without a branch to the lacrimal gland (Group C), the ZTb going outside the orbit through ZTFIN without a branch to the lacrimal gland nor LN (Group D), and absence of the ZTb (Group E). The D-ZTFIN V-ZTFIN H-ZTFIN ranged from 0.2 to 1.1 mm, 6.6 to 21.5 mm, 2.0 to 11.3 mm, respectively. The number of sides in Groups A, B, C, D, and E were 13 sides (65%), three sides (15%), none (0%), two sides (10%), and two sides (10%), respectively. Such anatomical knowledge might reduce complications following surgery in and around the ZTb.

Keywords: maxillary nerves; orbit; orbital fractures; surgery; zygomatic bone.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Measurement of the horizontal and vertical distances of the ZTFIN. Note the lateral and inferior margin of the orbit is colored in red (left orbit).
N; nasal cavity, IOF; infraorbital foramen, ZTFIN; the opening of the ZTb inside the orbit, H-ZTFIN; horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZTFIN, V-ZTFIN; the vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZTFIN.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Dissection of Group B on the right side. Both the ZTb and the LN innervated LG and had a communicating branch (arrowheads).
LG; lacrimal gland, LN; lacrimal nerve, ZFb; zygomaticofacial branch, ZN; zygomatic nerve, ZTb; zygomaticotemporal branch, ZTFIN; the opening of the ZTb inside the orbit.
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