Transverse facial artery
Arteria transversa faciei
Definition
The transverse facial artery emerges from the medial aspect of the parotid gland and continues rostrally, on the surface of the masseter muscle, parallel to the zygomatic arch and then to the facial crest. It gives superficial branches to the masseter muscle in most species, without going beyond this muscle.
In the horse and small ruminants these branches are more voluminous, and for the latter the transverse artery of the face even extends to the lips, to which it supplies the superior and inferior labial arteries, as well as the angular artery of the mouth.
References
Constantinescu GM, Schaller O. Illustrated veterinary anatomical nomenclature, 3rd Edition, Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 2012.
Barone R. Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques, Tome 2, Arthrologie et myologie, 4th edition, Vigot, Paris, 2017.
