Quick Facts
Origin: Pterygoid plexus.
Course: Passes forwards over the buccinator muscle to connect with the facial vein.
Tributaries: None.
Drainage: Pterygoid plexus to the facial vein.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The deep facial vein is a branch of the pterygoid plexus and serves as a deep connection with the facial vein.
Course
The deep facial vein courses forwards from the infratemporal fossa deep to the masseter muscle and the body of the mandible. It passes over the buccinator muscle to reach the facial vein.
The pterygoid plexus of veins is linked with the cavernous sinus via emissary veins. Infections from the face can spread in a retrograde direction from the facial vein, through the pterygoid plexus to the cavernous sinus and cause thrombosis of the cavernous sinus.
Tributaries
There are no named tributaries.
Structures Drained
The deep facial vein drains the rostral aspect of the pterygoid plexus to the facial vein.
List of Clinical Correlates
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Vein
A venous sinus is a vein with a thin wall of endothelium that is devoid of smooth muscle to regulate its diameter.
