The extratemporal segment of the facial nerve begins at the stylomastoid foramen. The nerve is surrounded by dense connective tissue at the exit of the stylomastoid foramen, where the parotid gland immediately surrounds the nerve. The facial nerve then passes downward and anterolaterally. The main trunk of the facial nerve gives off three main branches: the posterior auricular nerve, branches to the posterior belly of the digastric, and the stylohyoid muscles.