IJAR.2025.296
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 14; Issue 1 (March 2026)
Page No.: 9461-9465
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2025.296
Morphological Variations of Marginal Mandibular Nerve and Its Relation to Facial Artery: A Cadaveric Study
Thamarai Selvi A *1, Anbumani T L 2, Karthick S 3, Gnanavel A 4, Lalitha R 5.
*1 Associate Professor of Anatomy, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. ORCiD: 0000-0001-7120-4535
2 Director of Anatomy, Bhaarath Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
3 Professor & H.O.D of Anatomy, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
4 Professor of Anatomy, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
5 Associate Professor of Anatomy, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Corresponding author: Dr. Thamarai Selvi A, M.B.B.S; M.D(Anatomy), Associate professor of Anatomy, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. E-Mail: tham5190@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Background: The Marginal mandibular nerve is a terminal branch of Facial nerve. The nerve runs close to the inferior margin of the mandible, superficial to the facial vessels and supplies the muscles of the lower lip. The proper knowledge on variations along the course of the nerve and its relations to facial vessels play a significant role in determining the success of any surgical intervention in that region.
Materials and methods: This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in the department of anatomy of a private medical college in Tamil Nadu, India. Fifty facial halves from embalmed cadavers are utilised for this study. Descriptive statistics is used to analyse the data obtained from the study
Results: In all the 50 specimens, marginal mandibular nerve emerged from the cervicofacial ramus of facial nerve. 26% specimens showed single branch of the nerve, in 56% specimens, two branches were observed, and in 18% specimens, three branches of marginal mandibular nerve were observed. 76% the nerve coursed inferior to mandible. The average distance of the nerve from the inferior margin of the mandible was 1.4 cm. In 96% of the specimens, the nerve coursed lateral to the facial vessels. In 4% of the specimen, the branches of the nerve were found both lateral and medial to the facial artery. Communication of the nerve with buccal branch was observed in 16% of specimens.
Conclusion: As the marginal mandibular nerve shows lot of variations, a proper anatomical knowledge on the same helps the patients to have a good treatment preventing any iatrogenic complications.
Key words: Marginal mandibular nerve, Facial artery, inferior margin of the mandible, Facial nerve.
REFERENCES
[1]. Toure S, Vacher C, Bertrand JC. Anatomy of the marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve. Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac 2004; 105:149-52.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0035-1768(04)72294-9
[2]. Al-Hayani A. Anatomical localization of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve. Folia Morphol 2007;66:307-13.
[3]. Dingman RO, Grabb WC. Surgical anatomy of the mandibular ramus of the facial nerve based on the dissection of 100 facial halves. Plast Reconstr Surg 1962;29:266-72.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-196203000-00005
[4]. Ayman Ahmad Khanfour, El Sayed Aly Mohamed Metwally. Marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve: An anatomical study. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 2014;50:131-138.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajme.2013.12.004
[5]. Nelson DW, Gingrass RP. Anatomy of the mandibular branches of the facial nerve. Plast Reconstr Surg 1979;64(4):479-482.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-197910000-00006
[6]. Savary V, Robert R, Rogez JM, Armstrong O, Leborgne J. The mandibular marginal ramus of the facial nerve: an anatomic and clinical study. Surg Radiol Anat 1997;19(2):69-72
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628127
[7]. Batra AP, Mahajan A, Gupta K. Marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve: An anatomical study. Indian J Plast Surg 2010;43:60-4.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0358.63968
[8]. Marcuzzo AV, Uran-brunelli ANŠ, Cin EDAL, Rigo S, Piccinato A, Nata FB,Tofanelli M, Boscolo-rizzo P, Grill V, Lenarda RDI, Tirelli G (2020) Surgical anatomy of the marginal mandibular nerve: a systematic review and metaanalysis, 2020;750:739.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23497
[9]. Singh AP, Mahajan A, Karunesh Gupta K. Marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve: an anatomical study. Indian J Plast Surg 2010;43(1):60-4.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0358.63968
[10]. Baker DC, Conley J. Avoiding facial nerve injuries in rhytidectomy anatomical variations and pitfalls. Plast Reconstr Surg 1979;64(6):781-795.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-197912000-00005
[11]. Strelzow VV, Strelzow AG. Osteosynthesis of mandibular fractures in the angle region. Arch Otolaryngol 1983; 109:403-6.
https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1983.00800200049013
[12]. Brennan PA, Webb R, Kemidi F, Spratt J, Standring S. Great auricular communication with the marginal mandibular nerve, a previously unreported anatomical variant. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2008;46:492-3.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2007.12.005
[13]. Domet MA, Connor NP, Heisey DM, Hartiq GK. Anastomoses between the cervical branch of the facial nerve and the transverse cervical cutaneous nerve. Am J Otolaryngol 2005;26:168-71.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2004.11.018
[14]. De Bonnecaze G, Vergez S, Chaput B, Vairel B, Serrano E, Chantalat E, Chaynes P. Variability in facial-muscle innervation: a comparative study based on electrostimulation and anatomical dissection. Clin Anat. 2019;32(2):169-175. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23081
[15]. Nason RW, Binahmed A, Torchia MG, Thliversis J. Clinical observations of the anatomy and function of the marginal mandibular nerve. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2007;36:712-5.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2007.02.011
