European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 2 - Number 2
Eur J Anat, 2 (2): 91-96 (1998)

Intimal thickenings of the human facial artery: an immunohistochemical and morphometrical study

M.ªD. Alconchel1,J. Whyte1,A. Torres1,P.P Ortiz2,M.ªP. Díaz2 and R. Sarrat1

1.-Department of Morphology, School of Medicine. University of Zaragoza. Spain.2.-Department of Morphology, School of Medicine. University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spain

ABSTRACT In the present study, we undertook an experi­mental stucly of the structure, immunohistoche­ mistry and morphometry of the human facial artery. The structure of this artery belongs to the muscular type ancl we observecl pathological intimal thickenings, although no physiologica! mechanisms of regulation of b!oocl flow (cus­ hions) were locatecl, not even at the emergence of collatera! branches.Our immunohistochemical findings suggest that one of the most irnportant causes of the deve­ lopment of intima! thickenings is the migratíon of muscular cells from the media to the intima.The morphornetric study confirmed this hypothesis, revealing a more positive reaction to a-actin antibodies in the muscular !ayer of arte­ ries without intimal thickenings than in thicke­ necl arteries.

Keywords: Facial artery - immunohistoche­ mistry - morphometry - human.

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)