Anatomy of the frontal branch of the facial nerve: the significance of the temporal fat pad.

The anatomy of the temporal region, with reference to the frontal branch of the facial nerve, was examined in 12 fresh cadaver dissections. In all dissections, the frontal branch traveled in a constant plane along the undersurface of the temporoparietal fascia and was quite superficial as it crossed 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. Based on these relationships, a safe method of dissection within the temporal region is formulated.