How to dissect a human for facial nerves and facial muscles

This anatomical video tutorial will show you a deep look inside the parotid gland, facial nerve and facial muscles of a human, much like yourself. If you're a medical student and you need cadaver dissection instructions, this anatomy video will help you along your way. Learn how to dissect a human for the facial nerves and facial muscles. You have to be handy with a scalpel for this, and maybe scissors, and you definitely have to be able to scrape fat off when needed - a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.

1. Review the relevant osteology of the skull and mandible.
2. Remove the skin of the face except for eyelids and nose.
3. Expose the parotid gland and its duct, carefully dissecting the branches of the facial nerve passing through it.
4. Identify the branches of the facial nerve within the parotid gland.
5. Identify the retromandibular vein and its divisions and review the branches of the external carotid artery to the face region.
6. Clean and identify the muscles of facial expression related to the mouth.
7. Expose the supraorbital, infraorbital and mental branches of CN V.