Anatomical Study of the Zygomaticofacial Foramen and Its Related Canal

Abstract

The zygomaticofacial branch (ZFb) of the zygomatic nerve passes through the lateral wall of the orbit anterolaterally and traverses the zygomaticofacial foramen (ZFFOUT). However, in terms of intraorbital course, only a few studies have focused on the orbital opening of the ZFb (ZFFIN) and related canal. Therefore, this study aimed to locate the orbital opening and exit of the ZFb of the zygomatic nerve. Twenty sides from 10 fresh frozen cadaveric Caucasian heads were used in this study. The vertical distance between inferior margin of the orbit and ZFFIN (V-ZFFIN), the horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZFFIN (H-ZFFIN), diameter of the ZFFIN (D-ZFFIN), the vertical distance between the inferior margin of the orbit and ZFFOUT (V-ZFFOUT), the horizontal distance between the lateral margin of the orbit and ZFFOUT (H-ZFFOUT), and the diameter of the ZFFOUT (D-ZFFOUT) were measured, respectively. The ZFFIN were located 5.1 ± 2.0 mm superior to the inferior margin of the orbit and 4.3 ± 1.6 mm medial to the lateral margin of the orbit. The ZFFOUT was located 1.2 ± 2.9 mm inferior to the inferior margin of the orbit and 1.1 ± 3.0 mm lateral to the lateral margin of the orbit. The diameter of the ZFFOUT was significantly larger than that of the ZFFIN. Additional knowledge of the zygomatic nerve and its branches might decrease patient morbidity following invasive procedures around the inferolateral orbit.