Topographical relations of the facial artery in the region of the modiolus anguli oris.

The facial artery together with the surrounding tissue in the modiolus was examined under the light microscope. The specimens were obtained from 15 formalin fixed human cadavers in our department. Each specimen was excised as a 1 cm3 cubic mass from the region where the facial artery bisected the line drawn horizontally from the angle of mouth. Light microscopic evaluation of the specimens revealed that the facial artery is surrounded by adipose tissue except one specimen. There was not a fibrous canal nor cleft at the angle of mouth in the modiolus as described.