Submental artery
The submental artery is the largest branch of the facial artery in the neck.[1] It first runs forward under the mouth, then turns upward upon reaching the chin.
Submental artery | |
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![]() Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side. (Submental artery visible at bottom right.) | |
Details | |
Source | facial artery |
Branches | superficial branch deep branch |
Identifiers | |
Latin | arteria submentalis |
TA98 | A12.2.05.023 |
TA2 | 4391 |
FMA | 49561 |
Anatomical terminology |
Anatomy
Origin
The submental artery is the largest branch of the facial artery in the neck.[1]
It arises from the facial artery just as the facial artery splits the submandibular gland.[1]
Course and distribution
The artery passes anterior-ward upon the mylohyoid muscle, coursing inferior to the body of the mandible and deep to the digastric muscle. Here, the artery supplies adjacent muscles and skin; it also forms anastomoses with the sublingual artery and with the mylohyoid branch of the inferior alveolar artery. Upon reaching the chin, artery turns superior-ward[1] at the mandibular symphysis to pass over the mandible before dividing into a superficial branch and a deep branch; the two terminal branches are distributed to the chin and lower lip, and form anastomoses with the inferior labial and mental arteries.[1]
Branches
- The superficial branch passes between the integument and depressor labii inferioris, and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery.
- The deep branch runs between the muscle and the bone, supplies the lip, and anastomoses with the inferior labial artery and the mental branch of the inferior alveolar artery.
Additional images
- Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
- Submental artery
- Submental artery
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 555 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 586. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
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