Facial vein

From its origin it runs obliquely downward and backward, beneath the zygomaticus major muscle and zygomatic head of the levator labii superioris, descends along the anterior border and then on the superficial surface of the masseter, crosses over the body of the mandible, and passes obliquely backward, beneath the platysma and cervical fascia, superficial to the submandibular gland, the digastricus and stylohyoideus muscles. ==Clinical significance==

Thrombophlebitis of the facial vein, (inflammation of the facial vein with secondary clot formation) can result in pieces of an infected clot extending into the cavernous sinus, forming thrombophlebitis of the cavernous sinus. Infections may spread from the facial veins into the dural venous sinuses. Infections may also be introduced by facial lacerations and by bursting pimples in the areas drained by the facial vein. ==Additional images==

Image:Gray515.png|Bloodvessels of the eyelids seen from the front Image:Lateral head anatomy detail.jpg|Anatomy of the human head seen from the side Image:Head ap anatomy.jpg|Anatomy of the human head seen from the front Image:Slide5yyyy.JPG|Dissected human head (facial vein labeled) Image:Slide5BBB.JPG|Dissected human head (facial vein labeled) ==References==