We all know that our bodies have blood vessels that carry blood to every part of our body. It's like a water pipe. But have you ever wondered how blood is carried to the delicate areas of your beautiful face, to the muscles that work when you smile and talk? There is a special blood vessel for that. We call it the Facial Artery . Today, we will talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.
What is the Facial Artery?
Simply put, the Facial Artery is a major blood vessel (artery) that runs from your neck through your face. It's not just one, there are multiple facial arteries on both sides of your face, that is, on the right and left sides. These end mostly on the sides of your nose and mouth.
In the past, doctors also called this the External Maxillary Artery , but now the name facial artery is more commonly used.
What areas are supplied with blood by the facial artery?
Imagine, this facial artery is what gives life, that is, supplies blood, to most of the parts of your face that are close to the surface. Let's see what it is:
- You have a lot of muscles in your face (the ones that help you laugh, talk, and eat).
- The roof of your mouth .
- Tonsils ( in the throat).
- Your cheeks .
- Chin .
- Lips (both lower and upper lips).
- Nose .
- Salivary glands ( the ones in the mouth that make saliva).
Important: Sometimes, when a tumor is surgically removed from the head or neck, surgeons take blood supply from this facial artery to reconstruct the area. That's how important it is.
How is this facial artery located?
Okay, now let's see where this facial artery is located inside the body and how it travels.
It starts on the side of your neck . From there , it goes up through your cheekbone . To be precise, it ends just below your eye. Along the way, the facial artery passes over your jawbone .
Most of the time, the facial artery branches off from the large blood vessel called the external carotid artery , which runs vertically up and down your neck. However, not everyone has the same artery. Some people don't have an external carotid artery, but the facial artery may start from the internal carotid artery or the common carotid artery . Sometimes, it may start from the same place as the lingual artery, which supplies blood to the tongue, rather than starting from a separate place. This can vary slightly from person to person.
What are the parts of the facial artery?
The facial artery is not just a single, continuous tube. Just like a tree branching out, it branches off into smaller branches that carry blood to different parts of the face. These branches start at two main points:
Branches that branch off the facial artery in the neck:
- Ascending Palatine Artery
- Tonsillar Branch (going to the tonsils)
- Submental Artery ( to the area under the chin)
- Glandular Branches ( to glands)
Branches that branch off from the facial artery in the face:
- Inferior Labial Artery (to your lower lip)
- Superior Labial Artery (to your upper lip)
- Lateral Nasal Branch (to the sides of the nose)
- Angular Artery ( main branch that runs up the nose and ends near the eye)
This is a bit medical, but I just wanted to give you an idea.
What does the facial artery look like? What is its nature?
Your facial artery is a little twisted . Do you know why? When you eat, talk, or smile, your mouth moves. That's because the blood vessel needs to stretch and expand at those times. It's like a rubber tube, it's designed to be able to bend in any way.
Some people's facial arteries may be larger than normal, or they may not be fully developed.
Like all other arteries in our body, the facial artery is like a tube. It has a hollow space inside it, and blood flows through that hollow space. There are three layers of arteries. One of these layers is made up of muscles that control the amount of blood that flows through the artery.
What conditions can affect the facial artery?
Like every other organ, this facial artery can also suffer from certain diseases and problems. Let's see what they are:
- Temporal Arteritis (also called Giant Cell Arteritis) . This is a condition in which the arteries become inflamed.
- Atherosclerosis of the Common Carotid Artery, the main artery that supplies blood to your facial artery. Simply put, it is the buildup of fat inside the blood vessels.
- Some cosmetic injections , such as fillers , can accidentally enter or pinch the facial artery.
What are the common symptoms of these conditions?
Okay, so what kind of symptoms does this kind of problem show when it comes to the facial artery?
- Jaw pain .
- Double vision .
- Feeling very tired (Fatigue) .
- The pain where the filler was injected, as mentioned earlier.
- The skin turns blue or gray where the filler was injected.
Another thing: If you have ever had a stroke , a condition of paralysis, or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) (which is like a mini-stroke), it means you may have atherosclerosis in your carotid artery (which supplies blood to the facial artery).
How to check the health of the facial artery?
There are various ways for doctors to look inside your facial artery and see if there is a problem with it. These won't harm you in any way.
- Ultrasound examination (this uses sound waves).
- Computed Tomography (CT scan) (this uses X-rays and a computer).
In addition to this, sometimes blood tests may also be performed.
What are the treatments for facial artery problems?
There are treatments for conditions that affect the facial artery. Treatment depends on the specific condition.
- Temporal arteritis is treated with medications such as corticosteroids .
- If there is a problem where the filler was injected, things like tapping, massaging, or heating the area are done gently .
- Sometimes, it is necessary to inject a special substance to dissolve the cosmetic filler and remove it.
- If you have atherosclerosis , you may be given medication to lower your cholesterol or prevent blood clots .
How to keep the facial artery healthy? (Just like our other blood vessels!)
To keep your facial artery healthy, you need to do the same things you do to keep every other blood vessel in your body healthy. These are very simple things:
- Avoid using tobacco products. This means completely stopping things like smoking cigarettes.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. It's best to reduce it as much as possible.
- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Limit the amount of salt added to foods.
- Exercise most days of the week. Even a short walk is fine.
When you move your mouth and cheeks, you probably don't even think about the blood supply that helps your facial muscles work. But your two facial arteries are the ones that make sure that the lower part of your face gets the oxygen it needs. Therefore, seeing your doctor regularly for checkups will help keep not only your facial arteries, but all the other blood vessels in your body healthy.
So, what is the most important thing we want to take home from this story?
The most important thing you need to understand from all this is that the Facial Artery is essential for the health of our face and for daily activities. It is like a small river that brings life to our face.
So, if you feel any unusual pain or change in your face or jaw area, don't take it lightly. Seek medical advice immediately. Because, even if it's something small like this, it's very important to take care of these delicate systems in our body. Remember, health is the greatest asset!
` Facial artery, facial artery, blood circulation, facial health, arterial disease, atherosclerosis, temporal arteritis
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