A contribution to the study of the facial artery, its branches and anastomoses; application to the anatomic vascular bases of facial flaps.

The authors present the results of dissection of 40 facial arteries and their collaterals. The study of the collaterals is specifically for the cervical portion of this artery and especially for the three segments of its facial portion. The artery and its collaterals are extremely variable as regards its mode of termination. 4 types of artery are presented: labial, angular, nasal and abortive. The global description of the vascularization of the face and the principal anastomoses leads on to a study of the facial flaps and the plastic surgery of the face.