Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica
Online ISSN : 1881-1736
Print ISSN : 0030-154X
ISSN-L : 0030-154X
Morphological study of the vasa nervorum in the peripheral branch of human facial nerve
Koji ISHIBEYuichi TAMATSUMasahiro MIURAKazuyuki SHIMADA
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2011 Volume 88 Issue 3 Pages 111-119

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Abstract

Given the length of axons reaching to distal regions, all peripheral nerves must derive nutrient supply not only for the nerve cell body, but also for the peripheral parts. Along the course of a peripheral nerve, in general, nutrient vessels accompany nerve fibers to peripheral regions in the form of “vasa nervorum” derived from the epineurium, reaching the endoneurium through the perineurium and forming a capillary plexus. In addition, in reconstructive procedures in plastic surgery, anastomo-sis of not only nerves, but also the vasa nervorum, has been reported to achieve improved outcomes. The present study therefore observed morphological features of the blood supply to the distal portion of the facial nerve in 14 sides of 14 adult cadavers (age at death, 46-86 years) under stereo microscopy after dye injection. The region of the epineurium was also observed under scan-ning electron microscopy (SEM). The vasa nervorum was seen to derive from a complex reticulation structure formed mainly by the superficial temporal, facial, transverse facial and zygomatico-orbital arteries with collateral supply from the supra-orbital, deep temporal, buccal arteries and parotid branches. SEM showed that one capillary accompanied each perineurium in each nerve fascicle.

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© 2011 Editorial Board of Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica
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