Submental artery | |
---|---|
Details | |
Source | facial artery |
Branches | superficial branch deep branch |
Identifiers | |
Latin | arteria submentalis |
TA98 | A12.2.05.023 |
TA2 | 4391 |
FMA | 49561 |
Anatomical terminology |
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.
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]
The artery passes anterior-ward upon the mylohyoid muscle, coursing inferior to the body of the mandible and deep to the digastric muscle.[citation needed] 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[citation needed] 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]