The zygomatic branches of the facial nerve (malar branches) are

nerves A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers (called axons) in the peripheral nervous system. A nerve transmits electrical impulses. It is the basic unit of the peripheral nervous system. A nerve provides a common pathway for the e ...

of the

face The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...

. They run across the

zygomatic bone In the human skull, the zygomatic bone (from grc, ζῠγόν, zugón, yoke), also called cheekbone or malar bone, is a paired irregular bone which articulates with the maxilla, the temporal bone, the sphenoid bone and the frontal bone. It is si ...

to the lateral angle of the

orbit In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as a p ...

. Here, they supply the

orbicularis oculi muscle The orbicularis oculi is a muscle in the face that closes the eyelids. It arises from the nasal part of the frontal bone, from the frontal process of the maxilla in front of the lacrimal groove, and from the anterior surface and borders of a short ...

, and join with filaments from the

lacrimal nerve The lacrimal nerve is the smallest branch of the ophthalmic nerve (V1), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). The other branches of the ophthalmic nerve are the frontal nerve and nasociliary nerve. Structure The lacrimal nerve branche ...

and the zygomaticofacial branch of the

maxillary nerve In neuroanatomy, the maxillary nerve (V) is one of the three branches or divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth (CN V) cranial nerve. It comprises the principal functions of sensation from the maxilla, nasal cavity, sinuses, the palate a ...

(CN V₂).

Structure

The zygomatic branches of the facial nerve are branches of the

facial nerve The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of tas ...

(CN VII). They run across the

to the lateral angle of the

. This is deep to

zygomaticus major muscle The zygomaticus major muscle is a muscle of the human body. It extends from each zygomatic arch (cheekbone) to the corners of the mouth. It is a muscle of facial expression which draws the angle of the mouth superiorly and posteriorly to allow one ...

. They send fibres to orbicularis oculi muscle.

Connections

The zygomatic branches of the facial nerve have many nerve connections. Along their course, there may be connections with the

buccal branches of the facial nerve The buccal branches of the facial nerve (infraorbital branches), are of larger size than the rest of the branches, pass horizontally forward to be distributed below the orbit and around the mouth. Branches The ''superficial branches'' run beneath ...

. They join with filaments from the

and the

zygomaticofacial nerve The zygomaticofacial nerve or zygomaticofacial branch of zygomatic nerve (malar branch) passes along the infero-lateral angle of the orbit, emerges upon the face through the zygomaticofacial foramen in the zygomatic bone, and, perforating the orbic ...

from the

(CN V₂). They also join with the

inferior palpebral nerve The Inferior palpebral nerve (inferior palpebral branches) ascend behind the orbicularis oculi. They supply the skin and conjunctiva of the lower eyelid, joining at the lateral angle of the orbit with the facial and zygomaticofacial nerve The zyg ...

and the

superior labial nerve The superior labial branches (labial branches), the largest and most numerous, descend behind the quadratus labii superioris, and are distributed to the skin of the upper lip, the mucous membrane of the mouth, and labial glands. They are joined, i ...

, both from the

infraorbital nerve The infraorbital nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve, itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It travels through the orbit and enters the infraorbital canal to exit onto the face through the infraorbital foramen. It provides sensory ...

Function

The zygomatic branches of the facial nerve supply part of the

. This is used to close the eyelid.

Clinical significance

Testing

To test the zygomatic branches of the facial nerve, a patient is asked to close their eyes tightly. This uses

. The zygomatic branches of the facial nerve may be recorded and stimulated with an

electrode An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a semiconductor, an electrolyte, a vacuum or air). Electrodes are essential parts of batteries that can consist of a variety of materials de ...

Surgical damage

Rarely, the zygomatic branches of the facial nerve may be damaged during surgery on the

temporomandibular joint In anatomy, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the two joints connecting the jawbone to the skull. It is a bilateral synovial articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the mandible below; it is from these bones that it ...

(TMJ).

Additional images

File:Lateral head anatomy detail.jpg, Lateral head anatomy detail File:Slide1BAB.JPG, Lateral head anatomy detail.Dissection the newborn File:Slide1CAC.JPG, Lateral head anatomy detail.Facial nerve dissection.

References

External links

* - "Branches of Facial Nerve (CN VII)" * () * () * http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-5.HTM {{Authority control Facial nerve