The anterior facial vein is by far the largest vein in the face and is the companion of the facial artery. It is behind the artery, on a more superficial plane at first; and it runs a straighter course. It begins at the medial angle of the eye by the union of the supratrochlear and supraorbital veins, which descend from the forehead. It runs downwards and backwards, first superficially, and then under cover of the zygomaticus major, risorius, and platysma, and reaches the lower border of the mandible at the anteroinferior angle of the masseter, immediately behind the facial artery. There is pierces the deep fascia and descends into the neck, where it joins the anterior branch of the posterior facial vein to form the common facial vein.

Tributaries

In addition to the supratrochlear and supraorbital veins, it receives tributaries that correspond to the branches of the facial artery. As it crosses the buccinator muscle it gives of the deep facial vein, which connects it with the pterygoid plexus of veins in the infratemporal fossa.