Superficial temporal artery and branches in thai cadavers: anatomical variations, ethnic considerations, and filler injection safety

Abstract

The superficial temporal artery (STA) and its branches have anatomical variation between populations. Detailed knowledge of these is essential for safe temporal flap harvest and filler injection. Data in Thai populations are limited. We examined STA morphology, dissecting 20 embalmed Thai hemifaces (14 male and 6 female), measuring diameters and distances of the STA and its branches, and developing a three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetry model. The STA bifurcated cephalic to the zygomatic arch in 90% of specimens. The mean diameter of the STA stem was 3.29 ± 1.08 mm, with frontal, parietal, and zygomatico-orbital (ZOA) branch diameters of 2.59 ± 0.78 mm, 2.51 ± 1.09 mm, and 1.24 ± 0.46 mm, respectively. The ZOA was present in 90% of specimens, with a jugale distance of 19.36 ± 9.45 mm. Sex comparison showed that the parietal branch was significantly larger in males (2.84 ± 1.08 mm) than in females (1.73 ± 0.67 mm, p = 0.013). Thai STA morphology appears broadly similar to other East Asian populations, supporting adaptation of regional filler injection protocols while underscoring the need for population-specific vascular mapping in clinical planning.