Abstract:

Objective　To investigate anatomic features of the extracranial facial nerve of rabbits. Methods　15 healthy rabbits were used in this study. The facial nerve and it's extracranial branches were dissected and measured under the surgery microscope.　Results　After leaving stylomastoid foramen, the facial nerve trunk ramified the post aurem branch, the digastric branch and the stylohyoid branch, and then, the main trunk passed through the surface of jugomaxillary muscle, and further divided into temporal branch, zygomatic branch, buccal branch, marginal mandibular branch and cervical branch. The zygomatic branch closed to the buccal branch initially and combined into the latter, but separated from the latter again at the posterior border of angle oris.　Conclusions　For rabbit, the zygomatic and the buccal branches of the facia l nerve origining from the antero-inferior border of the auricle and reaching the posterior border of angle oris are stable and identifiable, which is feasible for repairing damaged facial nerve.

Key words: Rabbit, Facial nerve, Animal model