Get Started
Home › Basics › Zygomaticofacial foramen

Zygomaticofacial foramen

Medically Reviewed by Anatomy Team

  • Last updated on January 18, 2025

Table of Contents

The zygomaticofacial foramen (also known as the zygomaticofacial canal or infraorbital canal) is a small, circular opening located within the skull. It is an important structure in the anatomy of the head and face, as it allows for the passage of important nerves and blood vessels to and from the face.[1]

Structure

The zygomaticofacial foramen is a small, circular opening located within the skull. It is located on the surface of the zygomatic bone, which is a facial bone that forms the prominence of the cheek. [8]The foramen is surrounded by a thin bony ring called the foramen margin, which is composed of the zygomatic bone and the maxilla (upper jaw bone).

The foramen itself is small, measuring approximately 3-5 mm in diameter. It is located on the lateral (outer) surface of the zygomatic bone, near the base of the zygomatic arch (the bony structure that forms the cheekbone).[3] The foramen is situated at the junction of the zygomatic bone, the maxilla, and the frontal bone (the bone that forms the forehead).

Location

The zygomaticofacial foramen is located on the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone, near the base of the zygomatic arch. [6]It is situated at the junction of the zygomatic bone, the maxilla, and the frontal bone. Specifically, the foramen is located approximately 3-5 cm below the infraorbital margin (the lower margin of the orbit, or eye socket) and 1-2 cm lateral to the infraorbital rim (the bony rim that forms the lower margin of the orbit).[5]

Function

The main function of the zygomaticofacial foramen is to allow for the passage of important nerves and blood vessels to and from the face.[4] The foramen serves as a conduit for the zygomaticofacial nerve and artery, which supply the cheek and surrounding structures with sensory and motor innervation, as well as blood flow.

The zygomaticofacial nerve is a branch of the trigeminal nerve (also known as the fifth cranial nerve), which is the main sensory nerve of the face. The zygomaticofacial nerve exits the skull through the zygomaticofacial foramen and travels inferiorly (downward) along the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone. It supplies sensation to the skin of the cheek and lateral (outer) surface of the nose.[7]

The zygomaticofacial artery is a branch of the facial artery, which is a major artery that supplies blood to the face.[2] The zygomaticofacial artery exits the skull through the zygomaticofacial foramen and travels inferiorly along the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone. It supplies blood to the cheek and surrounding structures.

References

  1. Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st ed. Edited by Susan Standring. Elsevier, 2015.
  2. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 8th ed. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, and Anne M. R. Agur. Wolters Kluwer, 2017.
  3. Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy. 15th ed. Anne M. R. Agur and Arthur F. Dalley. Wolters Kluwer, 2020.
  4. Anatomy for Surgeons: Volume 1, The Head and Neck. 3rd ed. W. Henry Hollinshead. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1982.
  5. Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy. 7th ed. Frank H. Netter. Elsevier, 2018.
  6. Sobotta Atlas of Human Anatomy. 16th ed. Edited by Friedrich Paulsen and Jens Waschke. Elsevier, 2018.
  7. Textbook of Head and Neck Anatomy. 4th ed. James L. Hiatt and Leslie P. Gartner. Wolters Kluwer, 2018.
  8. The Skull: Volume 1 – Development. James Hanken and Brian K. Hall. University of Chicago Press, 1993.