垂直部に見られた顔面神経走行異常例

THREE CASES OF THE ANOMALY OF THE FACIAL NERVE

　I．はじめに

　最近4年間に難治性のベル麻痺症例11例に対して顔面神経垂直部の減荷手術を施行した所，そのうち3例に分岐および走行の異常が観察されたので報告するとともに，顔面神経の奇形に関して若干の文献的考察を加えたい。第1図は右側頭骨を外側からみた略図であり，正常の顔面神経垂直部は鼓索神経の分岐部も含めて，点線で示した如く走行しているが，今回の報告例はすべてこの部分に見られた異常例である。

　In 11 cases of decompression surgeries of Bell's palsies, anomalies of the facial nerve in the vertical portion were found in 3 cases.

　In the first case, the facial nerve splitted to two branches. Each of the branches ran in its own bony canal and they rejoined again at the stylomastoid foramen.

　In the second case, the facial nerve splitted to two branches at the upper and lower third of the vertical section. Each of the branches ran in its own bony canal and they rejoined at the stylomastoid foramen.

　In the third case, the chorda tympani nerve arose from the facial nerve at the stylomastoid foramen, and entered the middle ear through a canal anomalously superficially located.