In this study, we examined the relationship between the distances of the temporal and cervicofacial branches of the facial nerve relative to the temporomandibular joint in 92 facial halves from 56 adult cadavers (37 Negroes, 19 Caucasians; 48 M, 8 F). Negro and Caucasian males frequently had a temporal branch more distant from the acustic meatus (1.59 cm) and the tragus (2.09 cm) when compared to the respective females (1.25 cm and 1.82 cm). In mesocephalic Negro and Caucasian males, the cervicofacial trunk frequently passed closer to the meatus (1.76 cm and 2.26 cm,  respectively) than in brachycephalic Negro males (2.30 cm) and in dolicocephalic Caucasian males (2.95 cm). Mesocephalic Caucasian males and brachycephalic Negro males had larger distances for the cervicofacial branch (2.26 cm and 2.30 cm), respectively than the corresponding mesocephalic (1.4 cm) and brachycephalic (1.8 cm) females. The location of the temporal branches and cervicofacial trunk of the facial nerve increases the risk of lesions to these nerves during access to the temporamandibular joint. A knowledge of the measurements obtained here may help to decrease the number of such lesions