Anatomical variations of the superior labial branch of the facial artery

TL;DR

This study maps the anatomical variations of the superior labial artery in the Indian population to improve surgical safety in facial procedures.

Contribution

The study identifies four branching patterns of the superior labial artery and provides morphometric data specific to the Indian population.

Findings

Type 1 was the most common superior labial artery branching pattern (70%).

Morphometric distances from surface landmarks to arteries were measured bilaterally.

Superior and inferior labial artery origins differ relative to the cheilion.

Abstract

A precise understanding of the facial artery and its labial branches is crucial for safe surgical planning in the perioral and nasal regions. This study aimed to describe the branching patterns of the superior labial artery and to establish morphometric relationships of the facial artery, superior labial artery, and inferior labial artery with surface landmarks in the Indian population. Thirty hemifacial specimens from formalin-fixed adult cadavers were dissected. The origin and branching configurations of the superior labial artery and inferior labial artery were recorded, and horizontal and vertical distances from the cheilion and gonion to the Facial artery, superior labial artery, and inferior labial artery were measured using a digital vernier calliper (0.01-mm accuracy).

Four superior labial artery distribution patterns were identified, with Type 1 being the most prevalent (70 %). The mean gonion-to-facial artery distance was 2.20 ± 0.25 cm on the left and 2.20 ± 0.44 cm on the right. The cheilion-to-facial artery distance measured 1.45 ± 0.26 cm (left) and 1.44 ± 0.33 cm (right). The superior labial artery originated superior to the cheilion, whereas the inferior labial artery originated inferior to it. Superior labial artery vertical distances were 0.76 ± 0.39 cm (left) and 0.70 ± 0.41 cm (right), while inferior labial artery distances measured 1.75 ± 0.42 cm (left) and 2.00 ± 0.46 cm (right).

These findings reveal notable variation in the anatomy of the superior labial artery and provide consistent surface-based morphometric references that are helpful for safer facial reconstructive and aesthetic procedures.

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