側頭骨外顔面神経のfunicular pattern

抄録

Funicular structure of the extratemporal facial nerve in man was investigated by serial cross section of the specimen taken from a patient of parotid tumor. The facial nerve was composed of a few funiculi separated by thin perineural sheaths at just distal of the stylomastoid foramen. The bundles of the nerve increased in number and the perineural sheaths became thicker at the periphery of the distal portion. The intermingling and funicular redistribution of fibers by repeated changes in the funicular pattern were observed in the lower main branch. These findings suggested that there were no spatial orientation in the branches at this level of the facial nerve.