What are the anatomic landmarks for finding the frontal branch of the facial nerve?
(PRS 1989; 83:265) Answer: The frontal branch of the facial nerve leaves the parotid gland immediately caudad to the zygomatic arch. As it crosses the superficial surface of the arch, the frontal branch courses within the temporoparietal fascia (superficial temporal fascia) and travels along the undersurface of this fascial layer across the temporal region. The frontal bracnh enters the frontalis muscle above the level of the superior orbital rim. The frontal branch of the facial nerve travels in a constant plane along the undersurface of the temporoparietal fascia and is quite superficial as it crosses the zygomatic arch. The deep temporal fascia and superficial temporal fat pad are anatomically important structures which adjoin the periosteum of the zygomatic arch and lie deep to the frontal nerve. The superficial layer of the deep temporal fascia inserts along the superficial surface of the arch. The deep layer of the deep temporal fascia inserts along the deep surface of the arch.
