Morphologic anatomy of the facial nerve in fetus

VIII. SUMMARYThis study was done between October 2003 and May 2005 at Karadeniz TechnicalUniversity, Medical Faculty, Department of Anatomy.In the study, 32 the facial nerve of 16 fetus cadavers which differ intrauterin agesbetween 21.0 and 31.5 weeks were used. According to the branching patterns of the facialnerve and interconnections between branches, it was grouped into 6 types and the length ofthe facial nerve trunk between its emergence from the skull through the stylomastoidforamen and its bifurcation at the parotid area was measured. Besides, morphometricmeasurements were done between some anatomical landmarks and the nerve branches thatoriginated from major trunk of the facial nerve and its trunks. The measurement values ofthe length of the facial nerve trunk and its each branches compared as girls-boys, rights-lefts, rights of the girls-lefts of the girls, rights of the boys-lefts of the boys, rights of thegirls-rights of the boys, lefts of the girls-lefts of the boys.As a result of this study ; we are firmly of the opinion that understanding of thefacial nerve branching and morphometric locations of the facial nerve branches will shedlight on the every kind of surgical and clinical evaluation concerning the facial nerve andprevent injury of the facial nerve, the facial paralysis during the facial surgery procedures.