Deep facial vein

The deep facial vein is the most prominent tributary of the facial vein. It arises within the infratemporal fossa from the confluence of several smaller veins forming the anterior aspect of the pterygoid venous plexus.

It leaves the infratemporal fossa by traveling along the posteroinferior aspect of the maxilla towards its body. Once the vein reaches the anterior aspect of the posteroinferior border of the zygomatic bone and its connection with the zygomatic process of the maxilla, the deep facial vein flows into the facial vein.

The deep facial vein is an important vein, as it drains blood from the pterygoid venous plexus to the facial vein. Therefore, it is one of the routes through which the intracranial venous system indirectly connects with the extracranial venous system.