Surgical anatomy of the facial and great auricular nerves in a rabbit experimental model

Anatomía quirúrgica de nervios facial y auricular mayor del conejo como modelo experimental

Objective: to describe the surgical anatomy of the facial and great auricular nerves in a rabbit experimental model. Surgical technique: bilateral dissection of both studied nerves in 12 rabbits. The anatomic distribution pattern and surgical landmarks as well as similarities and differences with human beings are described. Results: the facial nerve courses under the superficial muscular aponeurotic system and the parotid, and divides into three main branches: orbital, buccal and marginal branches. The great auricular nerve runs posterior to the facial nerve and the retrofacial vein constitutes the main landmark. Both have a multifasicular pattern. Conclusions: the facial nerve of the rabbit is a study model for nerve regeneration due to its multifascicular configuration similar to that in humans. The major auricular nerve is a study model for grafts and is accessible in the same surgical field.

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