Facial vein
Last revised by Tariq Walizai
on 16 Jul 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Dimitrijevic M, Walizai T, Hacking C, et al. Facial vein. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 08 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-54540
Permalink:
rID:
54540
Article created:
17 Jul 2017,
Mila Dimitrijevic
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Mila Dimitrijevic had no recorded disclosures.
View Mila Dimitrijevic's current disclosures
Last revised:
16 Jul 2024,
Tariq Walizai
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures
Revisions:
6 times, by
6 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Anterior facial vein
The facial vein (previously known as the anterior facial vein) is the continuation of the angular vein and joins the anterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial vein 1-3.
Gross anatomy
At the level of the lower margin of the orbit, the angular vein becomes the facial vein 1. The facial vein commences at the side of the root of the nose and lies behind the facial artery 1. It runs obliquely downward and backwards, beneath the zygomatic muscle and the zygomatic head of the quadratus labii superioris muscle, descending along the anterior border and then on the superficial surface of the masseter 1. It then crosses over the body of the mandible, passes obliquely backwards beneath the platysma and cervical fascia, superficial to the submandibular gland, the digastric muscle and stylohyoid muscle 1.
The facial vein (along with the facial artery) pierces the deep investing fascia of the neck just below the border of the mandible where it unites with the anterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial vein 1-3.
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Standring S, editor. Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st Edition. Elsevier; 2016. ISBN: 9780702052309
- 2. McMinn RMH, editor. Last’s Anatomy Regional and Applied. 9th edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1998. ISBN: 9780729537520
- 3. Thorne, editor. Grabb and Smith’s plastic surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lipincott Wiliams & Wilkins; 2007. ISBN: 9780781746984
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Angular vein
- Lingual vein
- Platysma muscle
- Facial muscles
- Compressor naris muscle
- Angular artery (facial artery branch)
- Levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
- Submandibular gland
- Oropharynx
- Levator anguli oris muscle
- Depressor septi nasalis muscle
- Teeth
- Levator labii superioris muscle
- Retromandibular vein
- Submandibular space
- Risorius muscle
- Myrtiformis muscle
- Mentalis muscle
- Incisivus labii superioris muscle
- Zygomaticus minor muscle
Cases:
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Head and neck
- skeleton of the head and neck
-
cranial vault
- scalp (mnemonic)
- fontanelle
-
sutures
- calvarial
- facial
- frontozygomatic suture
- frontomaxillary suture
- frontolacrimal suture
- frontonasal suture
- temporozygomatic suture
- zygomaticomaxillary suture
- parietotemporal suture (parietomastoid suture)
- occipitotemporal suture (occipitomastoid suture)
- sphenofrontal suture
- sphenozygomatic suture
- spheno-occipital suture (not a true suture)
- lacrimomaxillary suture
- nasomaxillary suture
- internasal suture
- basal/internal
- skull landmarks
- frontal bone
- temporal bone
- parietal bone
- occipital bone
- skull base (foramina)
-
facial bones
- midline single bones
- paired bilateral bones
- cervical spine
- hyoid bone
- laryngeal cartilages
-
cranial vault
- muscles of the head and neck
- muscles of the tongue (mnemonic)
- muscles of mastication
-
facial muscles
- epicranius muscle
- circumorbital and palpebral muscles
- nasal muscles
-
buccolabial muscles
- elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
- levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
- levator labii superioris muscle
- zygomaticus major muscle
- zygomaticus minor muscle
- levator anguli oris muscle
- malaris muscle
- risorius muscle
- depressors, retractors and evertors of the lower lip
- depressor labii inferioris muscle
- depressor anguli oris muscle
- mentalis muscle
- compound sphincter
-
orbicularis oris muscle
- incisivus labii superioris muscle
- incisivus labii inferioris muscle
-
orbicularis oris muscle
- muscle of mastication
- modiolus
- elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
- muscles of the middle ear
- orbital muscles
- muscles of the soft palate
- pharyngeal muscles
- suprahyoid muscles
- infrahyoid muscles
- intrinsic muscles of the larynx
- muscles of the neck
- platysma muscle
- longus colli muscle
- longus capitis muscle
- scalenus anterior muscle
- scalenus medius muscle
- scalenus posterior muscle
- scalenus pleuralis muscle
- sternocleidomastoid muscle
-
suboccipital muscles
- rectus capitis posterior major muscle
- rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
- obliquus capitis superior muscle
- obliquus capitis inferior muscle
- accessory muscles of the neck
- deep cervical fascia
-
deep spaces of the neck
- anterior cervical space
- buccal space
- carotid space
- danger space
- deep cervical fascia
- infratemporal fossa
- masticator space
- parapharyngeal space
- stylomandibular tunnel
- parotid space
- pharyngeal (superficial) mucosal space
- perivertebral space
- posterior cervical space
- pterygopalatine fossa
- retropharyngeal space
- suprasternal space (of Burns)
- visceral space
- surgical triangles of the neck
- orbit
- ear
- paranasal sinuses
- upper respiratory tract
- viscera of the neck
- blood supply of the head and neck
-
arterial supply
-
common carotid artery
- carotid body
- carotid bifurcation
- subclavian artery
- variants
-
common carotid artery
- venous drainage
-
arterial supply
- innervation of the head and neck
-
cranial nerves
- olfactory nerve (CN I)
- optic nerve (CN II)
- oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- trochlear nerve (CN IV)
-
trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
- trigeminal ganglion
- ophthalmic division
- maxillary division
- mandibular division
- abducens nerve (CN VI)
- facial nerve (CN VII)
-
vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
- vestibular ganglion (Scarpa's ganglion)
- glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
- vagus nerve (CN X)
- (spinal) accessory nerve (CN XI)
- hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
- parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck
- cervical sympathetic ganglia
- greater occipital nerve
- third occipital nerve
-
cervical plexus
- muscular branches
- longus capitis
- longus colli
- scalenes
- geniohyoid
- thyrohyoid
-
ansa cervicalis
- omohyoid (superior and inferior bellies separately)
- sternothyroid
- sternohyoid
- phrenic nerve
- contribution to the accessory nerve (CN XI)
- cutaneous branches
- muscular branches
- brachial plexus
- pharyngeal plexus
-
cranial nerves
- lymphatic drainage of the head and neck
- embryological development of the head and neck
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